How many years do you have to work before you can claim a pension? For the country's MPs, it's six years. And they get a severance package as well when they leave. However, that's not the worst of the country's pension scheme for our members of Parliament. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation has renewed its attack on MPs pensions, launching an advertising campaign this week to remind Canadians about what it calls the "outrageous" pension plan for our federally elected politicians. The campaign points out taxpayers fork out $24 to the pension fund for every dollar MPs contribute. We also foot the bill for the 10.4% interest paid each year into the pension fund. Defence Minister Peter MacKay could stand to get over $4.5 million over the course of his retirement, Liberal Geoff Regan over $3 million, New Democrat Peter Stoffer over $2 million. Talk about being set for life. Should have listened to my mother and ran for office.
I was somewhat startled to read this week over 600 aboriginal women in this country have gone missing in the past two decades. Over 600! Yet National Chief Shawn Atleo couldn't get the full support of the country's premiers yesterday for a public inquiry into violence against native women. Premiers meeting host Darrell Dexter says they did talk about it and decided to watch first the outcome of an inquiry into the deaths and disappearances of women in Vancouver, many who ended up victims of serial killer Robert Pickton. But aboriginal women have gone missing from most provinces and the premiers lack of support for an inquiry was shameful.
So what gives with the closure of the Black Rock and Dingle beaches after Tuesday's rainfall? The two beaches were shut down as a precaution against an E coli bacteria outbreak. The city's planning to test the water this morning and the beaches could be open again by tomorrow, but does this mean every time it rains, the nearby pumping stations overflow posing a risk to the popular swimming areas?
Condolences to Natural Resources Minister Charlie Parker and his family after the death this week of his mother. Grace Parker was killed when the car she was driving left the road and struck a culvert. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Police have certainly been raking in the cash in recent months charging drivers with stunting. The latest the owner of a Porsche, clocked at 170 kilometres an hour in a 110 zone on Highway 104 Tuesday afternoon. He automatically loses his car and license for a week and faces a fine of just over $2400. Speed can not only sometimes kill, but it also costs.
Have a great day. Get involved. And if you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.
Rick Howe
