The Stel Salaried Pensioners Organization wishes to thank The Hamilton Spectator for permission to post the following article by Reporter John Kernaghan published in the June 30, 2004 edition
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Adding up the costs |
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'Shed no tears for retiring or defeated MPs' |
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By John Kernaghan |
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There are no soft landings for many losers in Monday's election. It's back to work for local candidates like Chris Charlton and David Sweet, unlike some defeated and retiring MPs who start collecting fat pensions. Gold-plated pension plans and rich severance payments will cost Canadian taxpayers $6 million in the next year, says John Williamson, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. "Shed no tears for retiring or defeated MPs," he said. "They are being well looked after by Canadian taxpayers." Defeated or retiring MPs who are eligible for a pension but have not reached the age of 55 are also entitled to receive severance equal to one month for every year served to a maximum of six months of 2004 member indemnity. Severance payments range from a low of $11,800 to a high of $70,500. So Sheila Copps and Stan Keyes will collect $70,500 in severance, John Bryden nothing. Copps, who is retired after losing the bitter battle for the Liberal nomination in Stoney Creek, collects $119,898 in annual pension. Liberal Keyes, knocked out by NDP candidate David Christopherson Monday, has a pension of $72,271. And Bryden, who left the Liberals and lost the Conservative nomination in Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale, will collect a $52,610 pension. Losing candidates who weren't in office, on the other hand, are counting up the financial and emotional costs. Sweet said his first order of business was to get back to work to make up for income lost over the campaign. And Charlton was gauging the damage of a fifth loss in seeking office. Others looked forward with relish to fight another day. "I'll be back," said Tony DePaulo, the NDP candidate barely defeated by Liberal cabinet minister Tony Valeri in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek. "I think I did pretty well for a rookie." DePaulo pushed Valeri deep into election night before losing. "I'm tired but I'm happy and I was just 818 votes short. You like to win but we learned we can run a really good campaign and had great workers." DePaulo said how close he came is still sinking in, motivating him to hold Valeri accountable in representing steelworkers."A lot of promises were made. We'll see what happens." Sweet was not ready to commit to future campaigns. "It's a tough day to even think about making any decisions," said the Conservative candidate. He drew 18,951 to Russ Powers' 21,539 in Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale Monday night. "But looking back I'm very grateful for the people who shut down their lives for long times, put everything on hold to help." The first-time candidate was able to put the Conservative effort in perspective, though. "When you think of it, we only met for the first time to start the riding association in January and went on to capture almost 19,000 votes." Sweet also said he had to compare his experience with someone like veteran Tory Tony Clement. "I really feel for Tony today. It's four straight losses for him." The former provincial cabinet minister lost the Ontario Conservative leadership campaign, the provincial election and then the leadership race for the new federal Conservatives. While not tipping his hand, Sweet agreed leader Stephen Harper and the Conservatives will now have time to show more about himself and the party in opposition, perhaps calming fears about what the Conservatives represent. On the day after, Charlton had one prevalent thought. "I wish I had 700 more votes, she said as she surveyed her close loss to Liberal incumbent Beth Phinney in Hamilton Mountain. She pulled in 17,743 votes to Phinney's 18,486. It was the NDP candidate's fifth loss in five tries for office at the municipal, provincial and federal level. Charlton said she could not even consider her political future in the wake of a campaign she felt she lost on last-minute strategic voting in which NDP-bound votes switched to the Liberals as a result of fear for a Tory majority. "I can't think of anything we could do differently. We had a great team and everyone worked so hard." Another run for office goes on the backburner now, she said. "Would I seek nomination again? I'd have to be sure I wouldn't be a liability." Conservative Tom Jackson, a city councillor and strong third on the Mountain, says he isn't contemplating anything right now other than serving the constituents of Hamilton's ward six. "I'm disappointed but I feel worse for the 200 campaign workers who were so loyal and committed and help run a strong localized campaign." But Jackson found the hard work, which indicated he led the riding after the advance polls June 18-20, was swept away by the fear factor Liberal strategists were able to foster. "Something happened after June 21, seeds of doubt were planted." jkernaghan@thespec.com 905-526-3422 |