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BC: Pat Bell Joins MLA Pension Brigade

Author: Jordan Bateman 2013/02/17

You can add Jobs Minister Pat Bell and backbencher John Slater to the evergroring list of MLAs not running for re-election this spring. If Bell bought back his missing pension years, he will start with a $63,109 payout in year one. By age 80, he will have collected $1.09 million. Slater is ineligible for a pension as he has not served the minimum six years.

Here’s the latest tally of B.C. MLAs elected in 2009, and what we believe they will collect in pensions. Remember, pensions increase by the rate of inflation every year. A lifetime estimate assumes the individual lives to age 80. This does not include the 15 month severance package.

***NOTE: These numbers assume MLAs "bought back" missing time from 1996 to 2007, when there was a far cheaper pension system in place. The list of MLAs who bought back has been kept secret, but we have yet to hear from any of the retirees that they didn't buy back that missing time. If we do, we will correct this record.

We will post new blogs as this list of retiring MLAs grows.

B.C. Liberals 

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

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

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

Colin Hansen (Vancouver-Quilchena; 17 years)
$89,039 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)
$78,500 year 1; $1.35 million lifetime
*left office in 2011

Pat Bell (Prince George-Mackenzie; 12 years)
$63,109 year 1; $1.09 million lifetime

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

Blair Lekstrom (Peace River South; 12 years)
$59,912 year 1; $1.04 million lifetime

Randy Hawes (Abbotsford-Mission; 12 years)
$53,000 year 1; $847,000 lifetime (14 years until he turns 80) 

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 

Ron Cantelon (Parksville-Qualicum; 8 years)
$34,490 year 1; $596,000 lifetime 

Joan McIntyre (West Vancouver-Sea to Sky; 8 years)
$32,875 year 1; $568,500 lifetime 

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

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

Rob Howard (Richmond Centre; 4 years)
Ineligible for MLA pension—less than six years of service

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

NDP

Guy Gentner (Delta North; 8 years)
$28,965 year 1; $500,000 lifetime

Diane Thorne (Coquitlam-Maillardville; 8 years)
$28,875 year 1; $461,000 lifetime (14 years to age 80) 

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

Gary Coons (North Coast; 8 years)
$28,500 year 1; $490,000 lifetime 

Dawn Black (4 years)
Ineligible for MLA pension—less than six years of service
Does receive an MP pension: $41,560 year 1; $790,000 lifetime

Independent

John Slater (Boundary - Similkameen; 4 years)
Ineligible for MLA pension—less than six years of service

BCCP

John Cummins (BCCP leader; never an MLA)
Currently collecting MP pension: $96,581 year 1; $1.3 million lifetime (age 69-80)


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