What do 52 teachers, 43 lawyers and 40 business people have in Common They're about to breach their contract with voters
- Taxpayers Release MP Contact and Former Occupations List
- CTF Encourages Canadians to Contact MPs in Ottawa
- Taxpayers Assert Financial Sacrifice Argument is "Patently False"
Full Report
OTTAWA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today released a master contact list for MPs in Ottawa along with their stated occupations before becoming MPs.
"Ignoring the facts won't make them disappear," stated CTF federal director Walter Robinson. "For the overwhelming majority of MPs, their take home pay today rivals and more often than not surpasses the income they earned before entering Parliament."
The CTF pointed to Canada Customs and Revenue Agency data (1998 taxation year) that show Canadians who earn above $100,000 per year fall amongst the top 2.1% of all income earners." "At $109,000 now, MPs are doing quite well. And with the proposed salary hike above $130,000, not only will their paycheques grow but their base pension amounts will also grow by 18%."
"Less than eight months ago, this group of 301 women and men entered into an implicit contract with Canadian voters to work for their current wage level for the duration of the current parliament," added Robinson. "To hike their pay packages now - while the taxi is idling and the jet back to the riding is fuelling up - is a betrayal of trust, breach of contract and odious spectacle of arrogance."
"Canadians should contact MPs in Ottawa this week in one last ditch attempt to avert this arrogant, fast-track, no public input, pay hike," concluded Robinson.