‘Brazeau and Harb charges demand speedy passage of bill’ to strip pensions from convicted politicians: watchdog

In light of the charges laid against suspended Senator Patrick Brazeau and former Liberal senator Mac Harb, on Tuesday, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation is asking for speedy passage for a bill that would eliminate pensions for crooked politicians.

The taxpayer watchdog wants Parliament to pass private members' Bill C-518 — first introduced last June — which would eliminate the pension for any MP or senator convicted of a crime for which the maximum punishment is imprisonment for not less than two years.

"Canadians have just witnessed the spectacle of convicted fraudster, former Liberal Senator and MP Raymond Lavigne, collecting his $67,000 annual pension while sitting in jail for filing false Senate expense claims," CTF Federal Director Gregory Thomas said in a press release emailed to reporters.

"We now have a former Liberal MP and Senator and a former Conservative Senator each facing criminal charges relating to their official duties, with more Senators under criminal investigation.

"Clearly, Senators and MPs need tougher anti-corruption penalties to combat the temptations politicians face."

[ Related: Sen. Patrick Brazeau and Mac Harb charged with fraud and breach of trust ]

The CTF claims that Harb — who, along with Brazeau, was charged with one count of fraud and breach of trust for alleged improper housing claims — is currently earning a pension of $103,000. They calculate that if Brazeau remains a suspended senator until January 2015, he would be eligible for a $32,486 annual pension once he turns 55.

It's important to note that neither senator has been convicted of a crime and that both have claimed that they did nothing wrong.

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As part of their campaign to get Bill C-518 passed, the CTF is crowd-funding to get this ad shown on television.

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