Advertisement

Severance for ex-MPs costs estimate of $3.3M, Canadian Taxpayers Federation says

Click to play video: 'Questions about Saini’s departure follow Trudeau on campaign trail'
Questions about Saini’s departure follow Trudeau on campaign trail
WATCH: Questions about Saini's departure follow Trudeau on campaign trail – Sep 5, 2021

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation estimates that MPs who lost their seats or stood down before the election could get $3.3 million in “golden goodbyes.”

Fifty-one MPs, who lost their seats or decided not to stand again, qualify for a severance cheque worth half their salary — some $92,900 or more if they were a cabinet minister or chaired a committee.

If they are 55 or older and had been an MP for six years, they qualify for a pension instead.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation estimates that pensions for MPs leaving office in 2021 will cost the public purse $1.4 million a year.

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

It says MPs’ severance payments will cost the taxpayer $3.3 million.

Story continues below advertisement

Some MPs will miss out on a pension because the election was called a month short of the six years they needed to qualify.

Benefits for Canadian MPs leaving office are more generous than in some other comparable countries, including the United Kingdom.

In the U.K., MPs who lose their seat get a “loss of office payment” which is worth a few thousand pounds. Unlike in Canada, they get nothing if they decide not to fight the election.

Sponsored content

AdChoices