Canada PoliticsTories ‘rub’ away free massage perk for MPs
Life is about to get a little bit tougher for our members of parliament.
As part of the Harper government's austerity budget of 2012, the Tories are axing a little-known, but widely used perk of political office — free massages.
According to CTV News, MPs who pay $100 a year to use a private gym on the eighth floor of the Confederation building were entitled one free therapeutic massage a week.
The perk was even extended to an MP's designated spouse, partner, girl or boyfriend.
But Speaker Andrew Scheer eliminated the perk in an email to MPs this week, calling it part of the plan to cut $30 million from the House of Commons budget.
"Within the context of the House of Commons' Strategic and Operating Review and as approved by the Board of Internal Economy, the House Administration will no longer be in a position to offer massage therapy services to clients of the members' gym. Please be advised that this change is effective immediately."
Two staff therapists were let go when the program was eliminated; according to Wowjobs.ca, the average salary of a registered massage therapist is about $45,000 a year.
MPs will now have to claim for a limited amount of massage expenses like everybody else on the federal government payroll — through their health benefits program.
In a interview with Yahoo! Canada News, Gregory Thomas of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation says we shouldn't pity our MPs for losing their taxpayer funded back rubs.
"MPs can afford to pay for their own massages, there's the rub," he said.
"Scrapping this ridiculous perk is long-overdue. Let's hope the next MP perk to get a rub-down is their platinum-plated pension plan."
Now, that would be a happy ending.
[ Related: Tory MP Peter Penashue does his best 'Groundhog Day' impersonation during interview ]
