TheReview

Wednesday, August 29,1990 — A7

How will you celebrate Trough Day?

It’s on September 4.

What do you mean you don’t have any idea
what Trough Day is and that you have other plans
for September 4?

You’re paying for Trough Day. Quite a bit as a
matter of fact. Does that make a difference? Do
you want to hear more? I thought you might.

Trough Day is the day 75 members of the
Canadian parliament will, in the words of the
National Citizens Coalition, “be handed a key to
financial security that no other Canadians outside
of Parliament will enjoy.”

On September 4, 1990, these 75 MPs will
celebrate the sixth anniversary of their election to
the House of Commons and therefore be eligible
to receive fully indexed pensions for the rest of
their lives. This means, as far as their pension is
concerned, they don’t have to worry about
inflation no matter how high it climbs.

The NCC, a group of citizens dedicated to
working towards more freedom for Canadians
through less government, uses a live example to
make its case against this great government
giveaway:

There are at least two 36-year-old MPs who
will qualify for life-time government pensions as
a result of their six years in the House. During
their tenure they paid about $40,000 into the
government pension fund. If they decided to pack
it in and resign their seats on September 5, they
would receive $17,390 every year until they
reached age 60. Total pension - $417,360.

Not a bad investment.

It gets better.

When these MPs hit age 60, assuming inflation
has averaged five per cent during the 24 years they
have been receiving their pension, in their 61st
year their annual pension more than triples to
$56,084. The following year, at five per cent
inflation, our 36-year-old MP will receive
$58,889.

If you want know what he or she will be paid at

Trough Day and you

and Gilbert Chartrand, the former Quebec Tory
who quit the party over Meech Lake, are both 36
years old. Most of the other qualifying MPs are
older and will receive less over the years than
these two. But celebrating Trough Day will be a
few younger MPs who will receive more.

How do you feel about your own pension plan?
Does your employer kick into your plan in the
same generous manner that you are contributing
to your MPs plan through your income taxes?

If you’ve worked for your company for just six
years; if you are 36 years old; if you want to get
into another line of work but can’t quite afford to;
will your employer's pension plan pay you
$17,390 for the next 24 years and then bump it to.
$56,084 when you are 61?

Can your employer afford to?

I'll bet not.

I’ll even bet that if you’ve been building up
your own Registered Retirement Savings Plan as
fast as the government lets you, you won't be able
to enjoy the same pensions your Members of
Parliament have decided to pay to themselves
from your tax contributions.

Til ask again.

How are you going to celebrate Trough Day?

Your first inclination, to shoot all MPs, is
understandable but impractical. Besides being
against the law it would be impossible.

MPs grow, within hours of their first election, a
skin thick enough to deflect any and all of the
slings and arrows thrown by even their strongest
constituent. And they develop an ability to
smoothly sidestep a thrusting accusation with a
dexterity sufficient to bring tears of admiration to
the eyes of even the most accomplished ballerina.

Is it time for a nation-wide taxpayers’ strike?
Can we declare British Columbia a federal tax
free zone? Can we once again ask the native
people of this country to use the strength of their
eagle feathers against federal oppression?

Can we do all three?

How am I going to celebrate Trough Day you

sy age 70, you figure it out. My stomach isn’t that ask?
strong. I am not as strong as you are. I will crawl into
The NCC says John Nunziata, one of the bed, turn the electric blanket up to nine, and not
_ candidates for the Liberal leadership last June, get up until I stop crying.

Quick breakfast for Russian IIo

LANDING FOR AN overnight stopover last
week were visitors from the U.S.S.R., who were
redirected to the Victoria Airport due to fog in
other areas. Getting in late required some fast
plans by the crew over at the Brentwood Inn
Motel and the neighboring Oak ’N Barrel
restaurant. A call about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (Aug.
21) by American Airlines resulted in accommo-
dation for 16 Russian pilots, with instructions for
an early wake-up call. Myrtha Jackson at the
motel said she was the only one with eight rooms
left. Restaurant manager Marty MacDonald got
in early to open at 7 a.m. Wednesday — two hours
earlier than normal — to feed the hungry visitors.
Before flying on to Seattle, one pilot lamented the
only way he could see Canada’s beautiful country

is from the air — because of a hectic schedule.
exe x

A PHOTOGRAPH OF the old Resthaven
Hospital has been sent to Margaret Charbon-
neau in Parksville by the Victoria Archives after
a request appeared in a recent Top of the Pile.
Charbonneau wrote last week, thanking all for the
help. Several readers called with information on
obtaining and old photo, including a call from the
people at Resthaven Lodge.

sz

LUNCHTIME IS NO LONGER a time when
the closed sign goes out at the offices of the
Peninsula Community Association on Bevan
Avenue in Sidney. For the first time since the
office opened in 1974, it will remain open from
12 noon until 1 pm., in addition to its regular
office hours. The first day of the new hours will be
Sept. 4.

ee x

* * &

IF DISPLAYS AT the Saanich Fair don’t satisfy
a penchant for vegetables, flowers and fruit,
maybe a free ticket, only one, to the Victoria
Horticultural Society’s Show Sept. 14 and 15,
downtown, will help. It’s only worth $1.50 so
paying for a friend’s admission shouldn’t leave
you penniless. The first one to give their name at
The Review office after 10 am. Wednesday gets

IL
eee

BIRDS AREN’T THE ONLY ones to go south.
Sidney resident Robert William Donaldson just
completed studies to achieve a Bachelor of
Business Administration degree from Valdosta
State College in Georgia. He was one of 412
scholars to receive degrees in a summer quarter
commencement ceremony, Aug. 18. Donaldson
was the only Canadian graduate taking part in the

ceremony.
ek %

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