CALGARY, AB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is calling on soon-to-be-former premier Jim Prentice to do the right thing and personally pay for the unnecessary by-election in Calgary-Foothills that he is causing.
On the night of May 5th, after resigning from the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party, Jim Prentice also announced he would be stepping down as MLA for Calgary-Foothills – mere hours after winning his seat.
Based on the cost of the four 2014 by-elections, one of which saw Prentice elected provincially for the first time, Elections Alberta estimates the cost of the upcoming by-election in Calgary-Foothills will be $250,000.
“Prentice’s decision to hand us another bill was a financial blindsiding,” said CTF-Alberta Director Paige MacPherson. “No one other than Prentice asked to go to the polls this many times, and Albertans certainly didn’t expect to be paying for this upcoming by-election. And they shouldn’t have to.”
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation urges Jim Prentice to look next door to British Columbia to see that a politician can and has footed his own bill. Former Penticton, BC Mayor Dan Ashton set an example by paying for the unnecessary by-election he prompted when he resigned to run provincially. After winning his MLA seat, Ashton paid taxpayers back the $32,000 by-election cost.
“Of course we shouldn’t force people to serve as members of the legislature if they don’t want to, and we can’t force politicians to fund the unnecessary by-elections they cause,” said MacPherson. “But in a unique case like this, the right thing would be for Prentice to pay the $250,000 cost.”
“Perhaps the PCs have some leftover cash in their war chest if Prentice cannot afford it, or perhaps he could fundraise,” suggested MacPherson.
Prentice became eligible for an annual MP pension estimated at $41,805 for his time in Ottawa, when he turned 55 on June 20, 2011. Accounting for indexing, assuming he lives until age 90 (as Canada’s Chief Actuary says MPs will), his total estimated lifetime pension collected will be $2.1 million. From 2011 to today, the CTF estimates his total pension collected so far is $174,778.
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— 30 — For more information: Alberta Director Paige MacPherson |
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The CTF is Canada's leading non-partisan citizens' advocacy group fighting for lower taxes, less waste and accountable government. Founded in 1990, the CTF has more than 84,000 supporters and seven offices across Canada. The CTF is funded by free-will, non tax-receiptable contributions. |
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