• Taxpayers put in $4 every $1 a politician contributes

EDMONTON, AB.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) has calculated the pensions of all MLAs who did not win or seek re-election last night. The total payout (to age 80) is estimated at $13.3 million.

Sixteen MLAs retired or opted not to seek re-election and 11 sitting MLAs were defeated in yesterday’s election.

MLAs are eligible for pensions after six years of service. Pensions increase by the rate of inflation every year, and can be collected at age 65. Taxpayers put in roughly $4 for every $1 a politician pays into their pension account.

“It’s time to end these rich pension schemes,” said Scott Hennig, CTF Vice President, Communications. “Most Canadians are lucky if their employer matches a dollar-for-dollar RRSP. There’s no justification for taxpayers to put in $4 for every $1 an MLA chips in.”

These numbers assume eligible MLAs bought back missing time from 1996 to 2007, when there was a far more modest pension system in place. The list of MLAs who bought back has been kept secret, but the CTF has yet to hear from any of the retirees that they didn't buy back that missing time.

On top of those pensions, outgoing MLAs can apply for up to $9,000 in retraining funds and are eligible for up to 15 months of severance pay (as much as $127,323 each).

Pension totals for MLAs who were defeated last night:

• Richard T. Lee (Liberal MLA, Burnaby North, 16 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $67,520. Lifetime total to age 80: $1,167,657.
• Naomi Yamamoto (Liberal MLA, North Vancouver-Lonsdale, 8 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $38,883. Lifetime total to age 80: $672,435.
• Marc Dalton (Liberal MLA, Maple Ridge-Mission, 8 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $32,600. Lifetime total to age 80: $563,772.
• Gary Holman (NDP MLA, Saanich North and the Islands, 4 years) – Ineligible for pension due to not serving six years.
• Scott Hamilton (Liberal MLA, Delta North, 4 years) – Ineligible for pension due to not serving six years.
• Linda Reimer (Liberal MLA, Port Moody-Coquitlam, 4 years) – Ineligible for pension due to not serving six years.
• Peter Fassbender (Liberal MLA, Surrey-Fleetwood, 4 years) – Ineligible for pension due to not serving six years.
• Amrik Virk (Liberal MLA, Surrey-Guildford, 4 years) – Ineligible for pension due to not serving six years.
• Suzanne Anton (Liberal MLA, Vancouver-Fraserview, 4 years) – Ineligible for pension due to not serving six years.
• Jodie Wickens (NDP MLA, Coquitlam-Burke Mountain, 2 years) – Ineligible for pension due to not serving six years.
• Doug Bing (Liberal MLA, Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows, 4 years) – Ineligible for pension due to not serving six years.

Pension totals for MLAs who retired before the election:

• Sue Hammell (NDP MLA, Surrey-Green Timbers, 22 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $87,420. Lifetime total to age 80: $750,323. Lifetime payout is slightly lower as she will be 72 at retirement.
• Bill Bennett (BC Liberal MLA, Kootenay East, 16 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $83,504. Lifetime total to age 80: $1.23m. Lifetime payout is slightly lower as he will be 67 at retirement.
• Gordon Hogg (BC Liberal MLA, Surrey-White Rock, 20 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $82,607. Lifetime total to age 80: $805,800. Lifetime payout is slightly lower as he will be 71 at retirement.
• Jenny Kwan (NDP MLA, Vancouver-Mount Pleasant, 19 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $75,820. Lifetime total to age 80: $1.3m. Left in 2015 to run for federal office.
• Maurine Karagianis (NDP MLA, Esquimalt-Royal Roads, 12 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $51,502. Lifetime total to age 80: $756,079. Lifetime payout is slightly lower as she will be 67 at retirement.
• Norm Macdonald (NDP MLA, Columbia River-Revelstoke, 12 years – Initial annual pension payout: $47,550. Lifetime total to age 80: $822,301.
• Robin Austin (NDP MLA, Skeena, 12 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $44,112. Lifetime total to age 80: $762,852.
• Terry Lake (BC Liberal MLA, Kamloops-North Thompson, 8 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $42,364. Lifetime total to age 80: $732,623.
• Don McRae (BC Liberal MLA, Comox Valley, 8 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $41,285. Lifetime total to age 80: $713,958.
• Moira Stilwell (BC Liberal MLA, Vancouver-Langara, 8 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $35,165. Lifetime total to age 80: $608,123.
• Pat Pimm (Independent MLA, Peace River North, 8 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $33,455. Lifetime total to age 80: $578,551.
• Kathy Corrigan (NDP MLA, Burnaby-Deer Lake, 8 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $30,385. Lifetime total to age 80: $525,461.
• Bill Routley (NDP MLA, Cowichan Valley, 8 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $28,612. Lifetime total to age 80: $383,758. Lifetime payout is slightly lower as he will be 68 at retirement.
• Vicki Huntington (Independent MLA, Delta South, 8 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $28,587. Lifetime total to age 80: $494,367.
• Doug Horne (BC Liberal MLA, Coquitlam-Burke Mountain, 6 years) – Initial annual pension payout: $27,251. Lifetime total to age 80: $471,262. Left in 2015 to run for federal office.
• Jane Shin (NDP MLA, Burnaby-Lougheed, 4 years) – Ineligible for pension due to not serving six years.

A one page PDF showing all defeated and retired MLAs and their pension amounts can be found HERE.