No public input on MLA pensions
Published Tuesday November 9th, 2010Consultation: Spokesman says panel reviewing the benefits paid to elected officials will not seek outside comment
A1
BRETT BUNDALE
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL
FREDERICTON - The review of MLA pensions and benefits in New Brunswick - considered by many critics to be far too generous - will not include public consultations.
Jean-Claude Angers, a retired judge and spokesman for the three-member panel appointed to review the pensions, said they will not seek public feedback.
"Our mandate does not provide for public hearings," he said in an interview on Monday.
Loredana Catalli Sonier, clerk of the Legislative Assembly, confirmed in an email that the review "does not provide for any form of public consultation or input."
The mandate and terms of reference were approved by the legislative administration committee, a group of MLAs charged with overseeing the activities of the legislature - and in line to receive the controversial "gold-plated" pensions.
Kevin Lacey with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation said he had contacted the New Brunswick government to participate in the review.
"I'm disappointed they won't be holding public hearings," he said. "What we see with all these gold-plated pensions and entitlement programs is politicians protecting themselves from criticism because they don't want to hear from people who want to blow the whistle."
Still, Lacey said the panel has the opportunity to overhaul the "outrageous" pensions and benefits of New Brunswick MLAs.
"These MLA pensions are so outrageous that anybody using an ounce of common sense will realize that they need to be reformed," he said. "I hope that when the recommendations are made we'll see real reform."
Angers, who has worked at the provincial, Queen's Bench and appeals court levels, promised that the panel will thoroughly examine all available information and make recommendations that are impartial and even-handed.
"I know that decisions never please everybody," he said. "I was a judge so I'm used to having people disagree with me. Given my background I'm going to go ahead and do what I think is right irrespective of what some people might think."
Angers will be joined by Laura Freeman, a former deputy minister in the provincial Office of Human Resources, and Carol Loughrey, a chartered accountant who has held various academic positions at the University of New Brunswick and served as the first female comptroller of a provincial government.
The mandate provided to the three-member panel said that members of the legislative assembly should be compensated at a fair and reasonable level to ensure that capable individuals continue to offer themselves for public service.
"Compensation levels should not be so small as to discourage qualified candidates from running, or so generous as to be a major inducement for seeking office," reads the mandate approved by the committee of MLAs.
"The requirement to be available and accountable 24 hours a day, seven days of a week, coupled with the lack of job security associated with an election every four years, ensures that only certain individuals will interrupt a career and consider running for public office.
"A position of such importance in our democratic system, with wide-ranging responsibilities, should be fairly compensated in order to attract qualified and committed individuals."
In April 2008, as flood waters threatened communities along the St. John River, MLAs voted unanimously to raise their salaries from $45,347 to $85,000, while also ending two allowances used to supplement their incomes worth about $35,000.
Since pensions are based on salaries, the MLAs automatically boosted the size of their retirement packages as well.
Pensions rose to $30,000 a year after eight years in the House, up from $16,500. They soared to $76,000 a year after 20 years as an MLA, up from $41,000.
At the time, Justice Patrick Ryan, the conflict of interest commissioner, recommended an independent review of MLA pensions, but it never happened until now.
The panel has six months to file a report to the Speaker, expected in mid-March. It will operate at arm's-length from government.
Jean-Claude Angers, a retired judge and spokesman for the three-member panel appointed to review the pensions, said they will not seek public feedback.
"Our mandate does not provide for public hearings," he said in an interview on Monday.
Loredana Catalli Sonier, clerk of the Legislative Assembly, confirmed in an email that the review "does not provide for any form of public consultation or input."
The mandate and terms of reference were approved by the legislative administration committee, a group of MLAs charged with overseeing the activities of the legislature - and in line to receive the controversial "gold-plated" pensions.
Kevin Lacey with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation said he had contacted the New Brunswick government to participate in the review.
"I'm disappointed they won't be holding public hearings," he said. "What we see with all these gold-plated pensions and entitlement programs is politicians protecting themselves from criticism because they don't want to hear from people who want to blow the whistle."
Still, Lacey said the panel has the opportunity to overhaul the "outrageous" pensions and benefits of New Brunswick MLAs.
"These MLA pensions are so outrageous that anybody using an ounce of common sense will realize that they need to be reformed," he said. "I hope that when the recommendations are made we'll see real reform."
Angers, who has worked at the provincial, Queen's Bench and appeals court levels, promised that the panel will thoroughly examine all available information and make recommendations that are impartial and even-handed.
"I know that decisions never please everybody," he said. "I was a judge so I'm used to having people disagree with me. Given my background I'm going to go ahead and do what I think is right irrespective of what some people might think."
Angers will be joined by Laura Freeman, a former deputy minister in the provincial Office of Human Resources, and Carol Loughrey, a chartered accountant who has held various academic positions at the University of New Brunswick and served as the first female comptroller of a provincial government.
The mandate provided to the three-member panel said that members of the legislative assembly should be compensated at a fair and reasonable level to ensure that capable individuals continue to offer themselves for public service.
"Compensation levels should not be so small as to discourage qualified candidates from running, or so generous as to be a major inducement for seeking office," reads the mandate approved by the committee of MLAs.
"The requirement to be available and accountable 24 hours a day, seven days of a week, coupled with the lack of job security associated with an election every four years, ensures that only certain individuals will interrupt a career and consider running for public office.
"A position of such importance in our democratic system, with wide-ranging responsibilities, should be fairly compensated in order to attract qualified and committed individuals."
In April 2008, as flood waters threatened communities along the St. John River, MLAs voted unanimously to raise their salaries from $45,347 to $85,000, while also ending two allowances used to supplement their incomes worth about $35,000.
Since pensions are based on salaries, the MLAs automatically boosted the size of their retirement packages as well.
Pensions rose to $30,000 a year after eight years in the House, up from $16,500. They soared to $76,000 a year after 20 years as an MLA, up from $41,000.
At the time, Justice Patrick Ryan, the conflict of interest commissioner, recommended an independent review of MLA pensions, but it never happened until now.
The panel has six months to file a report to the Speaker, expected in mid-March. It will operate at arm's-length from government.
