- CTF Reacts to Alliance Pension Hypocrisy and PM's Double Digit Pay Hike Musings -
- CTF Lays Out Guiding Principles for Compensation Reform -

OTTAWA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today responded to news reports of several Canadian Alliance MPs opting back into the MP pension plan and not-for-attribution comments from Liberal MPs claiming that the Prime Minister mused about double-digit pay hikes in this week's Liberal caucus.

"If MPs - especially Alliances MPs who are receiving deserved heat for their pension flip-flop - want to defuse and de-politicize this symbolic and explosive issue, they simply have to follow the CTF's four principles for compensation reform," said CTF federal director Walter Robinson. "It's time for our 301 MPs to embrace the principles simplicity, transparency, fairness and accountability. Mr. Chretien, of all people, given his nearly four decades in public life should know this better than anyone. But instead, he is reportedly musing about a double digit pay hike for MPs on the eve of a recession."

"Admittedly, the issue of pay package changes for politicians are a tough sell at any time.

But employing our principles would ensure a successful and taxpayer friendly resolution to this issue so we could all move to discussing substantive policies such as health care reform, debt reduction and reforming the institutions of government," noted Robinson. "It's time to put this debate to bed. MP pensions account for about $23 million and salaries and allowances account for another $35 million per year out of $170 billion a year in government expenditures. Common sense, as embodied in the CTF principles, must prevail."

The CTF is consulting with current and former Parliamentarians to build support for adoption of its guiding principles and anticipates the opportunity to address the recently announced (January 12th) Commission to Review Allowances of Members of Parliament chaired by former Liberal Cabinet Minister, the Hon. Ed Lumley.

"We will forward compelling and iron-clad proposal that adoption of our guiding principles for compensation reform will forever remove this contentious issue from the front pages of the newspapers," concluded Robinson. "Canadians are sick and tired of reading about backdoor, backroom, pay hikes. Parliamentarians should be paid fairly and adequately through an open and transparent process. The solution is self-evident, but so far MPs have failed to grasp it.'