VANCOUVER: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today commended NDP leader Carol James for rejecting an MLA compensation report that recommends increasing MLA salaries by 30% and re-introducing gold-plated pensions. The CTF's provincial director Maureen Bader this morning sent a letter to Premier Campbell urging he do the same.

"I submit to you that - these recommendations are wildly out of sync with public expectations and should be shelved," reads the letter. "An increase in pay may be acceptable along with modest changes in the indexation formula, but not 29%, and certainly not coupled with the re-introduction of gold-plated pensions and many other absurd recommendations including a provision that would allow defeated or retiring MLAs to continue collecting their full salary up to 15 months after leaving their post."

Continues the letter: "Premier Campbell, you commendably campaigned against gold-plated MLA pensions that were out of line with public expectations while you were in opposition. That pension plan was abolished in 1996 and replaced with a sensible and generous group-RRSP provision for MLAs. Need I remind you of the public outrage over a pension plan that had taxpayers contributing $6.50 for every $1 contributed by an MLA "

"British Columbia has a relatively transparent and fair compensation package in place," concludes the letter. "Each Member that was elected on May 17, 2005 understood that package when they sought office. If it is decided that changes be made, they should only be made after the next election. This eliminates the inherent conflict of legislators voting themselves a pay increase and provides an opportunity for legislators to defend and justify their increases to those that will be paying for it, namely the taxpayers of BC."

The CTF plans to calculate proposed pensions benefits for MLAs, will be sending an Alert to its supporters and will shortly have an on-line petition available for taxpayers in B.C. to sign.

Click here for the CTF's letter to Premier Gordon Campbell