VICTORIA: The BC division of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today criticized the payout of $190,000 to the departing deputy minister of Health Planning- a payout after only five months on the job.

"The Canadian Taxpayers Federation supports the principle of market-based pay for civil servants; we do not support the idea of lavish severance packages to departing civil servants," said CTF-BC director Mark Milke. "The Liberals often criticized the NDP for giving golden handshakes to deputy ministers; the promised policy change is apparently still in the development stages-."

Milke noted that the Liberals owe the public an explanation, the NDP an apology, and taxpayers a new policy on severance packages for senior civil servants. "The government should negotiate severance packages that climb to such heights only after extended service to the public - service that is measured in years, not months."

The CTF noted that most private sector employees are lucky to get one or two months severance pay for every year worked. This payout of $190,000 - about one year's salary for a deputy minister - comes after only five months on the job. "It's a wonderful treat for such employees but a nasty trick for taxpayers," said Milke.