MP pensions

C-46, the bill to reform the pensions of MPs and Senators, has passed the Senate and received royal assent.

The Independent Conservative MP disagrees with changes to the MP pension plan.

The Conservatives and the opposition parties unanimously agreed this morning to split MP pension reforms from the omnibus budget bill and pass the separate legislation.

Question not answered: Which foreign takeovers would an NDP government approve or reject?

Again this afternoon, the Liberals asked the Conservatives to table a separate bill to deal with MP pensions. The Conservatives don’t seem interested.

The Prime Minister raised the issue of MP pensions in his interview with the CBC earlier this week, but, as the Finance Minister has noted, it is beyond the official purview of the government. Today the Globe reports that support for the reforms will come from the Conservative caucus. Tony Clement meanwhile muses of leading by example.

The CBC reports the government will cut deeper into departmental budgets than previously planned. The Finance Minister raises the possibility that some departments may have to cut more than 10% from their budgets.