TORONTO, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today released the list of estimated severance payments for retired and defeated city of Toronto councilors and the mayor. The estimated amount totals approximately $1,238,679.79 for the 13 politicians.
Regarding the payoffs CTF Federal Director Kevin Gaudet said “in the private sector when you quit or are fired with cause you don’t get severance at all.”
Severance payments are provided to defeated and retired city of Toronto councilors and the mayor at a rate of one month of pay for every year served to a maximum of 12 months. Councilors 65 or older will also immediately be able to collect their OMERS pensions. The mayor and 12 councilors will each receive the payment. The list includes:
| Ward | Name | Yrs in Office | Severance |
| Mayor | David Miller | 16 | $167,769.94 |
| 1 | Suzann Hall | 10 | $83,016.27 |
| 10 | Mike Feldman | 18 | $99,619.52 |
| 13 | Bill Saundercook | 25 | $99,619.52 |
| 15 | Howard Moscoe | 31 | $99,619.52 |
| 18 | Adam Giambrone | 7 | $58,111.39 |
| 19 | Joe Pantalone | 30 | $99,619.52 |
| 22 | Michael Walker | 28 | $99,619.52 |
| 27 | Kyle Rae | 19 | $99,619.52 |
| 29 | Case Ootes | 22 | $99,619.52 |
| 32 | Sandra Bussin | 22 | $99,619.52 |
| 35 | Adrian Heaps | 4 | $33,206.51 |
| 36 | Brian Ashton | 26 | $99,619.52 |
| Total | $1,238,679.79 |
Severance entitlements also provide individual access for one year to a receiptable allowance of $3,500 for counseling services. This is in addition to the cash payout.
The CTF is calling for a randomly-selected citizen’s panel to establish the pay for the council. At the beginning of every new council session, prior to January 1st,council is entitled to undertake an analysis of ‘comparators’ to establish council pay.
Gaudet concluded “a great way to give taxpayers a voice on setting the pay, perks and pension of city council is to ask regular, average Torontonians on a citizen’s panel to make the recommendations.”
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