Federation Opens Atlantic Canada Office and Announces new Atlantic Director

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FREDERICTON:  The major findings of a new report from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) show MLA pensions are costing New Brunswick taxpayers millions. Analysis reveals taxpayers pay nearly $16 for every $1 contributed by politicians. In total, MLA pensions cost taxpayers approximately $7.5 million each year. (Photo: CP Images-Stephen MacGillivray)

“At a time when the provincial government is running a huge deficit, it’s hard to justify excessive pension plans for politicians”, says new CTF Atlantic Canada Director, Kevin Lacey.

The report makes two major recommendations:

• Replace the current MLA pension program with an RRSP style system and reduce the taxpayer to MLA contributions from 16:1 to 1:1.

• Create a citizens panel of regular, randomly selected New Brunswickers to examine MLA pay and benefits, rather than relying on the former politicians who’ve been hired to do the last few reports.

Click on the link to view the full report: Report on New Brunswick MLA pensions, salaries and expenses. Sign our online petition: Reform MLA pension plan: New Brunswick

"It’s election time. Taxpayers should demand their candidates promise to reform these expensive pension programs. Giant pensions symbolize government overspending,” added Lacey. 

Troy Lanigan, President of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation also announced the organization is expanding by adding a full time presence in Atlantic Canada.

Heading into election season, New Brunswick has seen huge deficits and politicians voting themselves pension increases. We have long wanted to establish a presence in the region and feel regional demand coupled with the occasion of our 20th anniversary has made the timing perfect” said Lanigan.  “We promise to be a watchdog with a bite every bit as fierce as our bark.”

Kevin Lacey has been appointed the new Atlantic Canada Director for the CTF.