EDMONTON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today released severance pay calculations for 13 members of Calgary's city council, including the 12 who are seeking re-election on Monday, October 15th (acclaimed aldermen - Colley-Urquhart and Fox-Mellway - were excluded from the calculations).

City council "transition allowances" are calculated at two weeks salary for every year served on council up to a maximum of 52 weeks.

Retiring Ward 11 alderman, Barry Erskine, will receive an estimated $47,738 severance payment.

If they are defeated on October 15th, members of city council will receive:

Dave Bronconnier - $95,322
Dale Hodges - $76,380
Bob Hawkesworth - $44,712
Ray Jones - $44,712
Joe Ceci - $38,190
Craig Burrows - $19,095
Druh Farrell - $19,095
Madeline King - $19,095
Gord Lowe - $19,095
Ric McIver - $19,095
Helen Laroque - $9,548
Andre Chabot - $8,362

"This is a complete double standard. No city worker or any worker in the private sector would be eligible to collect severance pay if they retire or are fired with cause," stated CTF-Alberta director Scott Hennig. "The next council should end this double standard and get rid of their 'transition allowance.'"

In its submission to the 2006 Calgary City Council Compensation Review Committee, the CTF recommended the city council "transition allowance" be eliminated. The committee rejected the CTF's recommendation.

Alberta Municipal elections

The CTF has taken an active role in Alberta's upcoming municipal elections. The following links will take you to various discussion on important taxpayer issues concerning the elections.

• Calgary City Council Severance Pay Calculations
• Edmonton City Council Severance Pay Calculations
• Taxpayers stonewalled by City of Calgary on new taxing powers
• Edmonton City Council voting records
• www.EdmontonVotes.ca
• CTF to candidates: Time to show your donors.
• Edmonton candidate survey results
• Calgary candidate survey results