MP continues to work despite proroguing of Parliament

Published: February 16, 2010 7:00 PM Vernon Morning Star:

Okanagan-Shuswap MP Colin Mayes works hard for his money. The MP stressed this point when asked about the federal government decision to prorogue Parliament and the ensuing protests from citizens across the country. “Anybody that knows me and how I’ve operated in my political and private life, I’m not a slacker, I never have been. “If this job doesn’t keep me busy, I’ll go do something else.” He said the proroguing of Parliament doesn’t mean politicians aren’t working. “It doesn’t mean government stops. Cabinet’s still meeting. We just got a great commendation from Bill Clinton for our great response in Haiti. How do you think that happened? “Everybody’s working. We’re just not sitting and debating bills in Parliament.” Mayes said if Parliament sits for 132 days, that doesn’t mean he works only 132 days. He has work to do in the constituency.

He outlined some of his duties just prior to the interview Jan. 29. “There was the Olympic torch relay, meetings in my office... the winter carnival last night, Jacquie and I were at the queens’ excellence program in Vernon, the coronation of the queen last night, tomorrow Jacquie and I are going to kick off the Vernon Winter Carnival, tomorrow morning we’re in the parade. Sunday night I leave for Ottawa and then for Washington.” He said his trip to Washington is focusing on Canada-U.S. parliamentary relations.

Government of Canada documents show that MPs make $157,000 per year, receive 64 plane tickets for travel anywhere in Canada, have a $25,000 tax-free annual expense allowance and receive an annual pension after six years as an MP. In 2009, the House sat for 130 days; in 2008, 93 days. From 2000, the longest that Parliament was in session was 134 days in 2001. In the 1980s, days sitting were higher, peaking at 183 days in 1987. Mayes says he doesn’t think MPs are overpaid, even when Parliament is prorogued. “For some reason, people think that somebody that’s elected to public office should be paid poorly, be in the constituency, be in Ottawa, be in Victoria, basically have no time off. The fact is that we work a lot of hours. I can’t even go down shopping in Salmon Arm without somebody talking to me about issues. “That’s why my wife and I – we never went on holidays out of the country, but now we want a couple of weeks away. I don’t want to see my Blackberry, I just want to sit and read and have fellowship with my wife.”

He refers to others who make similar salaries. “The human rights commission, they make $160,000 per year. People building automobiles, $180,000... “I don’t think we’re overpaid, I think we work hard for our money. It’s something you have to believe we’re doing on behalf of the citizens. My hand doesn’t shake when I receive my pay cheque.” Regarding 36 bills that died when Parliament was prorogued, Mayes said most of the government bills went through before the Christmas recess. Some were retained, he said, such as the one on the gun registry.