The 19 British Columbian MLAs who quit, retired or were defeated in Tuesday's election are due to receive around $8.8 million in severance payouts and retirement benefits -- all paid for by B.C. taxpayers, according to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
In all, there are $7 million in potential retirement benefits for 10 ex-MLAs and $1.8 million in severance payouts for all 19, the CTF's Maureen Bader said in an interview with ctvbc.ca.
She said one former BC Liberal cabinet minister, Richard Neufeld, tops the list for potential pension benefits and can expect to receive a pension payout of around $1.3 million to age 80.
Neufeld, the former Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, resigned as an MLA after being appointed to the Canadian Senate by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in December 2008.
The most recently elected MLA, Jenn McGinn of the New Democratic Party, who won her Vancouver-Fairview seat on Oct. 29, 2008, is entitled to $53,500 in transition and education allowances after losing her seat on May 12. She served less than seven months.
Bader said 14 BC Liberal MLAs, including seven former ministers, are entitled to the perks, along with five former NDP MLAs.
"Politicians have put their own interests ahead of the people they purport to serve and will leave taxpayers to burden under a legacy of higher taxes," said Bader.
"MLAs have created a culture of entitlement for themselves that is completely out-of-touch with the realities of taxpaying families. This must change."
Bader said MLAs were getting $2.40 from taxpayers paid into these "gold-plated" pension funds for every dollar they contributed themselves. This form of pension plan, which kicks in after an MLA serves for six years, was reinstated in 2007 after being out of favour for many years.
To see the Canadian Taxpayers Federation list of pension and severance payments, click here.
