Canadian Press
The House of Commons has unanimously approved changes to the Member of Parliament (MP) pension plan after splitting them off from the government’s big omnibus budget bill.
After negotiations, the Commons adopted a motion to whip the changes through with a single motion. The changes will sharply increase the contributions MPs must make to their pensions and require them to wait until age 65 to collect.
MP contributions, which now run about $11,000 a year, will rise to about $39,000. Under the old system, MPs could start collecting a pension at age 55.
Opposition MPs, while pronouncing themselves pleased with getting the pension changes through swiftly, are still arguing that the 443-page omnibus bill should be further sub-divided.