Its a fitting way for a champion of the poor to leave Parliament.  NDP MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis today announced her retiring from federal politics so that she can make her way into municipal politics as Winnipeg's new mayor.  Ms. Wasylycia-Leis was a tireless advocate for wealth redistribution and state management of the economy during her 13 years in Ottawa; which she no doubt deeply and genuinely believes helps the poor and less fortunate. Philosophical differences be what they may, she believed in what she was doing.

In that spirit of sharing the wealth, Ms. Wasylycia-Leis will now have to forgo her $163,306/year salary in favor of the more modest $67,012 in annual pension payouts, according to estimates by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF). As she is of eligible age to collect immediately, she will be able to use this income to supplement her potential new salary that comes with the major's gig in Winnipeg.

"When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor taxpayers have no food, they call me a fiscal conservative".