MP pension changes pulled from omnibus budget bill and passed in the House

National Post Staff | Oct 19, 2012 11:37 AM ET
The House of Commons has unanimously approved changes to the MP pension plan after splitting them off from the government’s big omnibus budget bill.  After negotiations, the Commons adopted a motion to whip the changes through with a single motion. In Question Period on Thursday, Stephen Harper hinted he would consider removing the MP pension reforms from the 450-page bill. The Prime Minister said he would “take that specific suggestion under advisement,” after interim Liberal leader Bob Rae asked if Harper would agree to separate the pension reforms for an immediate Commons vote. Harper’s suggestion of a rare potential concession over the omnibus bill came after Finance Minister Jim Flaherty rejected the idea of taking out the pension provisions at his own news conference earlier on Thursday. The pension plan reforms, detailed in the Job and Reforms Act, include changes for federal MPs that will eventually see them putting nearly four times as much of their own money towards retirement than they currently do.