WATCH ABOVE: According to the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation, Albertans will have to shell out more than $13 million to outgoing MLAs. Eric Szeto has more.
EDMONTON — Albertans will be paying more than $13 million in transition allowances to retired or defeated MLAs, according to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
The CTF says the 74 defeated or retiring MLAs will receive a total of $13.5 million, with PC MLAs Gene Zwozdesky and Yvonne Fritz receiving the highest payouts at $874,000 and $873,000 respectively.
(Read the CTF’s transition allowance estimates in full below)
READ MORE: Transition Allowance and RRSP Contribution Estimates
The transition allowance payment is based on three months salary for each year served as an MLA.
Transition allowances were eliminated in 2012 by then-Premier Alison Redford, but it was not a retroactive cut, which is the reason MLAs are still receiving payouts.
READ MORE: No transition allowance under any name: Redford
“We are happy these transition payments are not continuing, but we would have preferred they were retroactive and taxpayers not have to keep paying MLAs to leave for years to come,” said CTF Alberta Director Paige MacPherson.
“The CTF is supportive of a matching RRSP contribution. However, the current agreement has taxpayers shelling out up to $4.50 for every $1 contributed by an MLA.”
The CTF adds the outgoing MLAs will also receive $7.2 million in RRSP contribution from taxpayers.
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