With the Senate expense scandal still fresh on everybody's minds, it should be noted that the worst is yet to come.
Some time ago marked the resignation of Liberal Senator Mac Harb. "Good riddance to bad rubbish", one might be forgiven for thinking. However, did you know that he will immediately start to collect a six-figure pension for his time as MP and Senator?
Harb, along with Senators Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin and Patrick Brazeau, have all had their expense claims referred to the RCMP for further investigation. If charged and convicted of defrauding taxpayers, these senators might have to serve hard time, but they won't lose their generous parliamentary pensions if they resign before being convicted.
Such is the state of our political system. This particular loophole is colloquially called the "Lavigne maneuver", named for former Liberal Senator Raymond Lavigne who quit the Senate shortly before his conviction in order to save his pension.
In fact, Lavigne is currently collecting a parliamentary pension of $67,611 per year while he sits in an Ontario jail cell. Fortunately, the federal parole board recently saw fit to keep him there to serve the rest of his short sentence.
However, others will continue to enact the "Lavigne maneuver" unless we change the law.
John Williamson, a Conservative MP from New Brunswick, has introduced Bill C-518, a private member's bill that would take away the pensions from people like Lavigne or any federal politician who is charged and convicted of defrauding taxpayers.
The bill specifically states that any conviction of those who were MPs or Senators on June 3, 2013 will result in loss of their parliamentary pensions, meaning that as long as the bill passes, Harb and others, if they are convicted, would lose their pensions, even if they resign. This bill requires Canadians' support to become law.
I urge everybody to contact the Prime Minister, the leaders of the opposition parties and their local MP to urge them to make Bill C-518 a reality. Don't let these crooks continue to defraud the taxpayer.
Matthew Cadrin
Innisfail
