PCs Vote To Keep Extravagant Severance

Government MLAs fail to show fiscal leadership by refusing two-thirds cut to severance

EDMONTON, AB (March 7, 2011): PC MLAs today voted to keep their extravagant taxpayer-funded severance packages by voting down Wildrose Finance Critic Rob Anderson’s bill calling for a two-thirds cut to MLA severance pay.

Bill 202 – the Legislative Assembly (Transition Allowance) Amendment Act – was defeated on second reading on the strength of 30 PC MLAs. Two Liberals also voted against it.

The bill would have replaced the transition allowance, which affords MLAs three months’ pay for every year served, with a retirement allowance not exceeding one months’ pay for every year served, to a maximum of 12 months.

“The PCs talk the fiscal restraint talk, but once again, they’ve failed to walk the walk,” Anderson said.

“Today, they had a real opportunity to demonstrate leadership to the people of Alberta. Unfortunately, the PCs just couldn’t help but cling to their taxpayer-funded entitlements.”

Every single PC MLA in the House, including PC leadership candidate Doug Griffiths, voted against it. No other PC leadership candidate was present to vote on the bill.

“It was disappointing to see that no PC leadership candidate was willing to step up and show an example of fiscal leadership,” Anderson said. “It is clear that none of them are serious about changing the culture of entitlement so rife in the PC Party.”

The Wildrose Caucus stands for free enterprise, less government, increased personal freedom and democracy.

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BACKGROUNDER:

PC MLAs who voted against Bill 202:

Jack Hayden

Frank Oberle

Verlyn Olson

Mary-Anne Jablonski

Lloyd Snelgrove

Rob Renner

Luke Ouellette

Len Webber

Fred Horne

Genia Leskiw

Yvonne Fritz

Robin Campbell

Arno Doerksen

Heather Klimchuk

Jonathan Denis

George Rogers

Dave Quest

George Groeneveld

Fred Lindsay

Alana DeLong

Peter Sandhu

Pearl Calahasen

Moe Amery

Neil Brown

Tony Vandermeer

Wayne Drysdale

Len Mitzel

David Xiao

Ken Allred

Doug Griffiths

Liberal MLAs who voted against Bill 202:

Harry Chase

Bridget Pastoor