On the side

Members of Parliament who run or collect additional income from a business are not in a conflict of interest, says an area MP.

A Canadian Press review of disclosure statements from Parliament's ethics commissioner shows that 151 of Canada's 308 MPs are either receiving income outside of their MPs salaries or have an ownership stake in a private business.

The analysis for the Canadian Press found that 103 MPs are owners or part owners of businesses – ranging from fast-food restaurants, a bakery and wilderness tours to holding company, farms or real-estate investments. Both of Thunder Bay’s area MPs are on the list of Parliament members that own or operate a business on the side.

MP John Rafferty (NDP, Thunder Bay – Rainy River) owns a communications and media recording business. Rafferty said it doesn’t make sense for MPs to shut down their businesses once they’re elected into office. He added that his business does not produce additional income.

"I have no other revenue or income," Rafferty said. "Rafferty Communications isn’t a working business and hasn’t been since about 2008. For most MPs, if they are self-employed or have an employment that they hope to return to…I don’t think they need to wind up those business. It just doesn’t make any sense."

The filings also show that 99 MPs each received more than $10,000 in income from outside sources in the previous year. That money is in addition to their base MP salary of about $157,000.

Forty-eight MPs collect pensions, most of which are from governments. Another 51 listed have addition income from speaking and consulting fees to rental and farm income.

"I know how difficult this job can be and I would be surprised if many MPs are actually involved in their own business while they are elected," he said. "It doesn’t make sense (shut down a) viable business."

Unlike the United Kingdom, there is no requirement for MPs to publicly disclose how much they earn from outside interests, just whether they earned more than $10,000. Nor do they have to disclose how many hours they spend on those outside jobs.

The only restriction is that they can't use their parliamentary office or their position as an MP to benefit their private businesses.

MP Bruce Hyer (NDP, Thunder Bay-Superior North) owns Wild Waters Nature Tours and a wilderness shop. Tbnewswatch.com contacted Hyer, but the MP was not immediately available for comment.