Harper, a man of integrity....and certainly the

[Obvious Li]

best Prime Minister in the last 100 years.....deserves major credit.....where is the mainstream media to offer congratulations...seems they are mutes....hahahaha



MPs' gold-plated pension scheme dies an unlamented death



Kelly McParland | Oct 22, 2012 8:35 AM ET | Last Updated: Oct 22, 2012 10:05 AM ET



   

If you weren't paying attention Friday –



Canadian members of Parliament, who had hitherto insisted their rich pension plan was wholly deserved and entirely defensible, suddenly threw up their hands and agreed they didn't need it any longer. A Conservative bill that would make them pay for some of their own benefits – an unheard-of concept anywhere within the environs of government – was embraced and pushed through the House with shocking speed. On Thursday the bill was still being spoken of in conditional terms, with lots of to-ing and fro-ing about how and when it might be voted on. By Friday it was a done deal. Wham-O, pensions fixed. Hey fellas, why can't we do stuff like this all the time?





Everyone knew it wasn't fair, except MPs. They insisted they deserved it because 1. Politics was an uncertain business and they might lose their job at any time; 2. If they weren't cooling their heels on the back benches they might have been able to secure better-paying jobs in the private sector; and 3. They work hard. The response to these points was obvious: Millions of Canadians hold precarious jobs that could disappear just as suddenly as those of MPs (and at much lower pay); for every MP who might have secured a better job outside government there are probably five who will never do as well again in their lives; and everyone thinks they work hard, so what's the big deal with MPs? Besides, name another job you can get with no experience or proven skills, which pays top dollar the moment you begin, and which enables knuckleheads like Rob Anders or Pat Martin to parade around feeling important and mouthing off to interviewers.







A small aside to all the above: Mr. Harper included a provision in the new deal that will personally cost him a considerable amount. Prime ministers get an extra pension on top of their MP pensions, which would have paid Mr. Harper an extra $105,000 a year. Under the new rules he would get about $33,000 as of January, a cut of $72,000 a year.



Many of the changes to MP pensions won't take effect until 2015, giving current MPs a chance to cash out first. Mr. Harper could have similarly delayed the change to prime ministerial pensions until after he left office, but chose instead to include himself. Former prime ministers usually have little difficulty making serious money once they leave office, but Mr. Harper is likely the least wealthy occupant of 24 Sussex Drive since Joe Clark, and before that, Lester Pearson. Trudeau, Mulroney, Turner, Chretien, Martin – none needed the extra money. Mr. Harper's salary as PM may be the most he's ever made. So he deserves some credit for ensuring the pain started at the top.



National Post

[Securious]

best Prime Minister in the last 100 years.....deserves major credit.....where is the mainstream media to offer congratulations...seems they are mutes....hahahaha



MPs' gold-plated pension scheme dies an unlamented death



Kelly McParland | Oct 22, 2012 8:35 AM ET | Last Updated: Oct 22, 2012 10:05 AM ET



   

If you weren't paying attention Friday –



Canadian members of Parliament, who had hitherto insisted their rich pension plan was wholly deserved and entirely defensible, suddenly threw up their hands and agreed they didn't need it any longer. A Conservative bill that would make them pay for some of their own benefits – an unheard-of concept anywhere within the environs of government – was embraced and pushed through the House with shocking speed. On Thursday the bill was still being spoken of in conditional terms, with lots of to-ing and fro-ing about how and when it might be voted on. By Friday it was a done deal. Wham-O, pensions fixed. Hey fellas, why can't we do stuff like this all the time?





Everyone knew it wasn't fair, except MPs. They insisted they deserved it because 1. Politics was an uncertain business and they might lose their job at any time; 2. If they weren't cooling their heels on the back benches they might have been able to secure better-paying jobs in the private sector; and 3. They work hard. The response to these points was obvious: Millions of Canadians hold precarious jobs that could disappear just as suddenly as those of MPs (and at much lower pay); for every MP who might have secured a better job outside government there are probably five who will never do as well again in their lives; and everyone thinks they work hard, so what's the big deal with MPs? Besides, name another job you can get with no experience or proven skills, which pays top dollar the moment you begin, and which enables knuckleheads like Rob Anders or Pat Martin to parade around feeling important and mouthing off to interviewers.







A small aside to all the above: Mr. Harper included a provision in the new deal that will personally cost him a considerable amount. Prime ministers get an extra pension on top of their MP pensions, which would have paid Mr. Harper an extra $105,000 a year. Under the new rules he would get about $33,000 as of January, a cut of $72,000 a year.



Many of the changes to MP pensions won't take effect until 2015, giving current MPs a chance to cash out first. Mr. Harper could have similarly delayed the change to prime ministerial pensions until after he left office, but chose instead to include himself. Former prime ministers usually have little difficulty making serious money once they leave office, but Mr. Harper is likely the least wealthy occupant of 24 Sussex Drive since Joe Clark, and before that, Lester Pearson. Trudeau, Mulroney, Turner, Chretien, Martin – none needed the extra money. Mr. Harper's salary as PM may be the most he's ever made. So he deserves some credit for ensuring the pain started at the top.



National Post

Its called "playing to the media", an old trick for a coming election issue. Very shrewd. He throws out these little canapés here and there for votes later. The conservatives can afford to throw out these morsels now judging by the current numbers.Geez I have to keep you guys honest, Heh Heh and wait... I am a Conservative Libertarian [or is that the other way around!]

[Pinay]

Yes, I meant to post that when I read it. He has big balls and I'm sure many of his own MP's are not that happy about it. I know a lot of Grits and dippers were pissed. Yes, this shows true leadership and integrity.

Harper absolutely can walk the talk..

[Securious]

much better than the fray here by far even with his bizarre turnaround with the Chinese.The second item on his mandate election promise after winning the election  for the Conservatives, if my memory serves me correctly, was... he was going to get tough on Chinese spies in Canada and deal with our appalling security holes. He backed away soon after with wierd trips to China which he swore he wouldnt do.

[Securious]

I am very concerned for Canada

[Securious]

and minds

[Obvious Li]

and minds

 i think it will be years after Harper retires before political students will come to realize and accept what a brilliant political strategist he is...he senses innately that if he can get the Canadian political system into a dual strictly between the left and right, that the majority of Canadian people will always trend slightly more right than left.....particularly when you factor in that new immigrants present and future are by and large more conservative and family oriented.....the more he can associate the (one party) left with big spoiled unions, fruits and nuts, big tax and spend socialists, anti business and environmental wackos...the greater chance he has of retaining power in Conservative hands....in fact, under that scenario Conservatives will become the natural governing party...there is little to no chance that the left could receive more than 50% public support in a straight heads choice between two parties...one left one right.....my family knows Harper quite well he stayed at my parents house many times when he was a rookie politician.....he has always maintained that the only way to ensure long term conservative rule was to destroy the Liberals and unite the left in a heads up contest between the two political philosophies.......

[Securious]

both parties come under the same control Obvious Li-Didnt you know that



PowerCorp