• 12 of 15 retiring (or retired) MLAs elected in 2009 are eligible for big pension payouts
• Pension payouts total $13.67 million 

VANCOUVER, B.C.: The payout for retiring B.C. MLAs this term has now topped $13 million in future pension payments, says the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

With the announced and expected retirements of Kevin Falcon, George Abbott, John Les and Mary McNeil this week, the total lifetime pensions that will be paid out to MLAs retiring this term is estimated at $13.67 million.

“While regular taxpayers struggle to put a few dollars aside for their own retirements, we are paying out millions to retiring politicians,” said CTF B.C. Director Jordan Bateman. “These pensions send the wrong message to public sector unions—that somehow there is more than enough money for gold-plated pension plans funded by taxpayers and borrowed money.”

Taxpayers put in about $4 for every dollar an MLA contributes to the pension plan.

“The pensions of Gordon Campbell, George Abbott, Bill Barisoff, Murray Coell, Barry Penner and Kevin Krueger are especially vexing,” asked Bateman, noting the six ran against gold-plated MLA pensions in 1996, pledging to scrap that system.

Even though the Liberals lost that election, the NDP went ahead and changed pensions to a commendable dollar-for-dollar, self-funding model. But in 2007, Campbell flip-flopped, bringing back the gold-plated system we have now, and allowing MLAs to buy back missing time. That buyback has already cost taxpayers $20.9 million.

“The system was fixed, thanks to the Liberals’ pressure, and then they went backwards,” said Bateman. “Naturally, it’s taxpayers who foot the bill for that hypocrisy.” 

Retiring or defeated MLAs are also eligible to receive up to 15 months of their MLA salary as severance—a total of $127,323. This is not factored into CTF calculations of their pensions as MLAs lose eligibility for the severance if they find other work in that 15 month period.

The complete list of MLAs elected in 2009 and their projected pension payouts (lifetime totals to age 80):

B.C. Liberals 

Gordon Campbell (Vancouver-Point Grey; 15 years, *left office in 2011)
$98,175 year 1; $1.7 million lifetime 

Bill Barisoff (Penticton; 17 years)
$90,992 year 1; $1.57 million lifetime 

George Abbott (Shuswap; 17 years)
$89,084 year 1; $1.54 million lifetime 

Murray Coell (Saanich North and the Islands; 17 years)
$89,000 year 1; $1.54 million lifetime 

Kevin Krueger (Kamloops-South Thompson; 17 years)
$87,700 year 1; $1.5 million lifetime 

Barry Penner (Chilliwack-Hope; 15 years, *left office in 2011)
$78,500 year 1; $1.35 million lifetime 

Kevin Falcon (Surrey-Cloverdale; 12 years)
$62,893 year 1; $1.09 million lifetime 

Harry Bloy (Burnaby-Lougheed; 12 years)
$49,000 year 1;  $720,000 lifetime (13 years until he turns 80) 

John Les (Chilliwack; 12 years)
$48,289 year 1; $835,000 lifetime 

Dave Hayer (Surrey-Tynehead; 12 years)
$47,600 year 1; $824,000 lifetime 

Iain Black (Port Moody-Coquitlam; 6 years, *left office in 2011)
$30,000 year 1;  $520,000 lifetime

Kash Heed (Vancouver Fraserview; 4 years)
Ineligible for MLA pension—less than six years of service 

Mary McNeil (Vancouver False Creek; 4 years)
Ineligible for MLA pension—less than six years of service

NDP

Michael Sather (Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge; 8 years)
$28,500 year 1; $490,000 lifetime 

Dawn Black (4 years)
Ineligible for MLA pension—less than six years of service

A regularly updated list of MLA pensions can be found at www.taxpayer.com/2013. The CTF posts pension calculations as MLAs announce retirements on the @jordanbateman Twitter feed.