KELOWNA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) reacted in shock to news that Liberal and NDP MLAs quietly agreed to millions in salary, benefit and expense increases. "After a wage fight with teachers and negotiations upcoming with almost every union in the province, the timing of this pocket-lining exercise is the height of stupidity," said director Sara MacIntyre.

"It's incomprehensible that government House Leader Mike DeJong can call these increases 'accountable,'" added MacIntyre. "Accountable is to have raised the issue of pay increases during the election just six months ago. Accountable is not raising your own pay and benefits behind closed doors with no public input or consultation."

"The $3.79-million announced in wage and expense increases is peanuts compared to what a reinstated gold-plated pension scheme will cost. Taxpayers can once again expect to be contributing upwards of $5 for every $1 dollar contributed by MLAs," added MacIntyre. "We look forward to Gordon Campbell and Carole James explaining to their constituents why they deserve a pension two-and-a-half-times greater than the limit allowed under the Income Tax Act of Canada."

Bring back Mike Harcourt -

The CTF commended the then Harcourt government for appointing an arms length Citizens' Panel to review MLA compensation in 1996. "That process ended gold-plated pensions and MLAs exempting one-third of their income from federal and provincial income tax," stated MacIntyre. "It made simple, transparent and fair recommendations on both compensation and benefits that took the conflict out of MLAs setting their own compensation and set an example that the rest of the country followed. To now turn the clock back is ludicrous."

History Repeats Itself -

In a July 6th 1995 interview with the Vancouver Sun Gordon Campbell railed against the then-NDP government for not eliminating gold-plated pensions fast enough: "The government said they were going to reform pensions," Mr. Campbell said. "They haven't done that for themselves. They're doing it for everyone else but themselves." He then went on to suggest that MLAs contribute to a group RRSP.

Vows to fight -

The CTF will immediately write the leaders of both parties urging the pension changes not receive Royal assent. In addition, the CTF will be urging its supporters to contact the leaders' offices and voice strong opposition. In the coming weeks, the CTF will also release estimated pension benefits for the 79 MLAs who stand to gain from this self-serving exercise.