The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is applauding the Nova Scotia NDP for passing a bill ensuring convicted criminal MLA Trevor Zinck will not be receiving his taxpayer-funded MLA pension.
The move came after CTF called for Nova Scotia government to strip criminal politicians of their pensions in 2010 as part a report on MLA pensions and again after former MLA and cabinet Minister Russell MacKinnon pleaded guilty to charges relating to his politicians expenses.
“Any politician convinced of abusing public funds while in office should not be entitled to a very rich taxpayer-funded pension,” said Kevin Lacey Atlantic Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “Thanks to new legislation brought in by the NDP, hard-working taxpayers won’t see their money going criminal former politicians.”
The MLA pension plan is so rich that for every $1 a politician contributes to the pension program, taxpayers put in $22.
The CTF called on the government to go one step further and re-call the Nova Scotia legislature and fire the Dartmouth North MLA.
“There’s no place in the legislature for criminals who try to profit from their position,” said Lacey. “All three political parties owe it to all Nova Scotians to send a signal that this type of behavior is not tolerable.”
MLA Zinck is still receiving his MLA pay from taxpayers of $87,500 a year.
CTF is also supporting a private members bill presented in the House of Commons by John Williamson MP (New Brunswick Southwest) that would strip any federal politicians of their pensions if a politician is convicted of a crime. The bill has received 1st reading.
Is Canada Off Track?
Canada has problems. You see them at gas station. You see them at the grocery store. You see them on your taxes.
Is anyone listening to you to find out where you think Canada’s off track and what you think we could do to make things better?
You can tell us what you think by filling out the survey