EDMONTON: Conservative MLA Butch Fischer will receive $281,227 in severance pay, in addition to an MLA pension for his years in office from 1982 to 1989. Fischer announced his retirement December 20, in the face of an ethics breach.

On August 7, 2001, the all-party Members' Services Committee increased MLA severance pay to three months' salary for every year in office, calculated as per the highest-earning years as Premier, Opposition Leader, Committee Chairman, Speaker, Cabinet Minister, or backbencher. Total severance pay, if all 83 MLAs quit in 2005, would cost Alberta taxpayers $17.7 million.

"Who else gets severance pay equivalent to three months' salary for every year of work when they voluntarily leave their employment " asked CTF-Alberta director John Carpay.

In British Columbia, MLAs receive severance pay upon suffering electoral defeat, not upon voluntary retirement.

"At the taxable equivalent of $76,250 per year, MLAs earn enough money to save up for their own pensions, like the majority of Albertans are required to do."

"Voluntarily quitting your job should not give you the equivalent of winning the lottery."

"With the teachers set to strike in January, now is a good time for MLAs to lead by example and repeal this outrageous measure they passed in August."