EDMONTON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today released its calculation of the severance pay to be received by Alberta Environment Minister Lorne Taylor if he resigns this fall, after eleven-and-one-half years in office. If the next election comes in the spring of 2005 and Dr. Taylor stays in office until then, his severance pay would rise to $375,552.

MLA severance pay is calculated on the basis of three months' salary for every year in office, based on the MLA's highest-earning years as Premier, Opposition Leader, Opposition House Leader, Speaker, Minister or Committee Chair.

Private sector severance pay averages only one month for each year of employment; severance pay of three months for every year worked is highly unusual.

Premier Klein will receive severance pay of $558,000 if he retires in 2005.

"It's up to MLAs of all three parties to make their remuneration transparent," stated CTF-Alberta Director John Carpay.

"In the 1993 provincial election, Dr. Taylor and Premier Klein made abolishing the former MLA Pension Plan a central plank in their platform. Without any public input or consultation, Liberal and Tory MLAs voted themselves these fat severance pay packages in 2001," stated Carpay.

"The government's main web page on MLA remuneration lists only the MLA salary and tax free allowance. To find the extra RSP allowance and fat severance pay packages, you have to dig through the small print that is hidden away elsewhere on the web site. There is no reason why the main web page on MLA remuneration shouldn't list the MLAs' RSP allowance and the generous severance pay packages," concluded Carpay.