18°c Overcast
14°c Cloudy periods
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Tories won't sever pension from big bill
OTTAWA -- If opposition MPs want to be seen supporting cuts to their gold-plated pension plan, they'll have to vote for a host of other measures, no matter how unpalatable.
Treasury Board President Tony Clement confirmed Thursday MP pension reforms will be included in the second, omnibus budget implementation bill, expected to be introduced shortly.
Clement told the House of Commons there will be no separate, stand-alone bill on pension reform, as opposition parties had urged.
Opposition MPs believe the tactic is aimed at putting them in an untenable position: support the budget bill, no matter what else is in it, or vote against cuts to their own fat pensions.
"This is what they do with omnibus bills," Liberal MP Marc Garneau fumed.
"They force everything to be one single vote. There may be things in the omnibus project that we could support, but there are probably things we cannot support. But we can only vote once and that's the problem."
If opposition MPs vote against the bill, Tories will undoubtedly accuse them of refusing to share the pain of Canadians, whose retirement savings have taken a big hit in the last few years and who are being asked to wait until 67 to collect old age security.
Garneau said Canadian voters need to see a recorded vote on the specific pension reforms so they know exactly where their MPs stand.
"We're ready to do it. We're ready to fast-track it," he said.
The opposition brought Parliament to a standstill last spring in a futile bid to stop the Harper government's first omnibus budget bill, which ran to 400-plus pages and involved controversial changes to some 70 different pieces of legislation -- including measures never before announced or alluded to by the government.
-- The Canadian Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 21, 2012 A15
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 37 articles for today)
Rask stands up for 28 saves to beat Rangers 3-1 in Game 5, help Bruins advance to East finals
7:40 PM 0
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Police searching for suspect who woke sleeping teen
- Traffic backed up on Trans-Canada near Richer
- MTS becomes takeover target
- Overnight stabbings probed
- Evidence ignored in dangerous driving acquital, appeal court told
- Teachers vote to donate $1.5M to human rights museum
- Doctor charged with sexually assaulting teen at HSC
- Driver horrified by scene in rearview mirror after load hits I-5 bridge, road falls into river
- Rare comic book featuring debut of Superman found insulating abandoned house in Minnesota
- Infamous, chronic pedophile declines to seek parole
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Crash claims two young women, RCMP say
- 2 dead in crash near Portage la Prairie
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Winnipeg woman camps out in front of legislature to protest child welfare
- Rainfall warning issued for southern Manitoba
- Two men now facing first-degree murder charges in Tim Bosma test drive death
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Driver crashes into tree near golf course
- Arrests made after raids on local head shops
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Driver horrified by scene in rearview mirror after load hits I-5 bridge, road falls into river
- Youth faces murder charge in Pauingassi First Nation death
- Islamic life showcased
- Charges laid against Sharon Home over resident's death
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Unjust justice: Still no aboriginal court in Manitoba
- PC white grape juice recalled nationally over undeclared sulphites
- Demonstrators rally against Monsanto in global anti-GMO protest
- New owner for lumber stores
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- MTS to sell Allstream to Egyptian investment group, focus on Manitoba market
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- First Nation celebrates groundbreaking on city's first urban reserve
- Skin picking gets status as distinct disorder, should help sufferers access help
- Order of Manitoba recipients announced
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- New owner for lumber stores
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- MTS to sell Allstream to Egyptian investment group, focus on Manitoba market
- Dogs can experience separation anxiety and depression just like humans
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.