Government watchdogs at the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) have calculated that, so far, retiring Liberal MLAs in the current government will be eligible to receive $13.7 million in pension benefits.
The calculations assume that the members live until they are 80 years old.
High-profile cabinet ministers such as Kevin Falcon, George Abbott, John Les and Mary McNeil all announced this week their intentions not to run in the May election.
“While regular taxpayers struggle to put a few dollars aside for their own retirements, we are paying out millions to retiring politicians,” said CTF B.C. director Jordan Bateman.
Taxpayers pay $4 for each dollar that an MLA contributes to the pension plan, he added.
Some of the likely pension payouts for retiring Liberal MLAs are:
- Gordon Campbell: $1.7 million at $98,175 per year
- Bill Barisoff: $1.57 million at $90,992 per year
- George Abbott: $1.54 million at $89,084 per year
- Murray Coell: $1.54 million at $89,000 per year
- Kevin Krueger: $1.5 million at $87,700 per year
- Barry Penner: $1.35 million at $78,500 per year
- Kevin Falcon: $1.09 million at $62,983 per year
- Harry Bloy: $720,000 at $49,000 per year
- John Les: $835,000 at $48,289 per year
- Dave Hayer: $824,000 at $47,600 per year
- Iain Black: $520,000 at $30,000 per year
