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Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services
MLAs will vote third and final reading next week of Bill 7, legislation that will increase pension benefits.
 Second Reading For: |
Ironically, prolonged debate of the move Wednesday prevented members from attending a poverty presentation a few metres away.
In the Great Hall, a coalition of community groups had hoped to draw members' attention to the difference between what a family of four on income support can buy with the monthly $535 the government provides for food and the $900 a federal study recommended.
'Close to an abuse of power'
Range Lake MLA Sandy Lee set the tone for a lively debate when she called the move to re-establish the extra pension "close to an abuse of power -- this is the kind of thing people hate politicians for."
Lee pointed out the existing pension is similar to the one provided the public service.
Other MLAs said the demands of the job justify the extra pension.
"When I came here in the 13th assembly, I don't think I had one gray hair and I'm almost looking like Jake Ootes now," said Mackenzie Delta MLA David Krutko.
After admitting he was not in the habit of turning down money, Michael McLeod said he knew going into the job there was no supplementary pension.
"What really seals my decision to vote against this bill, is when I look into my riding and see the economic conditions and social conditions that my communities are in, I certainly can't accept it," said the Deh Cho MLA.
Leon Lafferty was among a number of MLAs who took offence to Lee's criticism of supporters of the extra pension. Lafferty said the nature of the job limits MLAs career prospects.
"Being here, I've burned a lot of bridges," said the MLA for North Slave. "I've stood up for the little guys against the big guys. Those are the big guys who might employ me one day."
Charles Dent said the two per cent payback, though a percentage less than it was when the fund was established, was too rich.
The Frame Lake MLA said he plans to introduce an amendment to reduce the payout to one or one-and-a-half per cent. Dent added that any changes should come into effect after the next election.
Before it is voted on a final time, the bill will be debated once more at the committee level.
Slippery slope?
Seeded with $3.6 million in public money when it was established in 1990, the supplementary pension fund has been sitting idle since 1996.
That year, aiming to lead by example in a time of austerity, the 13th assembly opted out (also shortening the amount of service required to be eligible for benefits under the existing plan from six to four years.)
In terms of its impact on the government's financial situation, the move proved purely symbolic.
Removing all or some of the money in the fund would have left the government vulnerable to a class action law suit from MLAs who stood to collect on the pension, said clerk of the assembly David Hamilton.
The MLA for Weledeh said it is a philosophical as well as a legal issue. "Is it appropriate for a government to dip into pension plans?" asked Joe Handley.
Yellowknife South MLA Brendan Bell said the government has no business removing money from pension plans.
"I don't think it's fair," Bell said. "People rely on this money."
The fund is now worth $22.2 million.
Actuaries project it has enough of a surplus -- $8.4 million -- to cover benefit entitlements for the next eight to 10 years without infusing any additional money from government coffers.
Great Slave MLA Bill Braden said it presented a "legitimate and cost-free way to attract people to public life."
Bill 7 was discussed further in committee of the whole Thursday afternoon.
