Tory MP Fears Liberals and NDP Attempting to Grab Pensions Through Proposed Elections Act Revision

A Conservative MP is raising concerns about a proposed revision to the Elections Act by the Liberal government. This change would allow numerous MPs to still receive pensions even if they do not win the upcoming election.

During a meeting on March 22, Conservative MP Damien Kurek questioned the potential conflict of interest surrounding this amendment.

“The Liberals have introduced an amendment to the Canada Elections Act. Within this, on page two, there is a significant change to the election date,” Mr. Kurek stated.

The proposed amendments to the Act, presented on March 20, suggest moving the date of the next federal election to October 27, 2025. While the Act requires a general election to be held on the third Monday of October, the Liberals acknowledged that this conflicted with the celebration of Diwali in many communities.

Therefore, they proposed a one-time change to hold the election the following Monday to avoid conflicts with Diwali, as outlined in the amendment.

When asked during the meeting if MPs voting on this amendment that could impact their pension eligibility would constitute a conflict of interest, Ethics Commissioner Konrad Winrich von Finckenstein stated that it would not be a conflict. He emphasized that MPs are expected to act in the public interest, not their personal interest.

Liberal MP Iqra Khalid defended the change to the election date, highlighting its importance for Canadians celebrating Diwali and dismissing any insinuations of wrongdoing or conspiracy theories.

Following a conflict in 2019 with two Jewish holidays, Elections Canada’s decision not to change the date was influenced by the need to provide accessible voting services across the country.

Concerning pensions for MPs, those aged 55 and above who have served for six years qualify under the Members of Parliament Pension Plan. According to Mr. Kurek, the original election date of October 20, 2025, would have affected MPs elected on October 21, 2019, making them ineligible.

MPs from various parties face uncertainty regarding pension eligibility based on election outcomes, similar to those who missed pensions following the 2021 election.