The following was printed today. We did some research on the former MP’s pensions and the numbers are alarming. For instance: Rodger Cuzner’s pension for being an MP is currently $101,000 (or more) plus his current salary as a senator is $169,600 that alone gives him a salary of $270,600.00 per year. Then his expenses (Oct 1 to Dec 31, 2023) were $13,446.52 for a three-month period. Now we see that MP Mike Kelloway and MP Jaime Battiste will also be blessed with a huge pension for ensuring that you pay higher property taxes and that you drive on pothole ridden roads. We might also mention the fact that we need failing infrastructure addressed in this municipality, like a new library. None of the above have stood up for our constitutional rights under section 36 of the Canadian Constitution. Do you think these politicians are really representing and serving our best interests? It is obvious that they are serving their best interests. It is time we started to vote smarter in Cape Breton to ensure our communities' survival. Here is the letter: Change could guarantee C.B. MPs pension Election Act change could guarantee Cape Breton MPs pension Canadian Taxpayers Federation director Franco Terrazzano says moving the federal election a week later, instead of earlier, will cost Canadians as much as $120 million, the estimated lifetime pension if all 80 MPs first elected in 2019 lose their seats. “I’ve heard the government say that they’re moving this for Diwali. But I think if you ask any Canadian on the street, they would say, ‘OK, well, if you’re going to move the election, why don’t you just move the election a week early instead of a week back?’” SYDNEY — A Cape Breton MP says he was unaware a possible change to the federal Election Act would qualify him and other Parliamentarians eligible for a House of Commons pension regardless of the outcome of the next election. Democratic Institutions Minister Dominic LeBlanc recently proposed revisions to the act, including a onetime change in the fixed election date from Oct. 20 to Oct. 27, 2025, to accommodate the Hindu festival Diwali. The change would also guarantee that 80 MPs first elected in 2019 — including Mike Kelloway, who represents Cape Breton-Canso, and fellow Liberal Jaime Battiste, who represents Sydney-Victoria — have served the six years required to qualify for a lifetime parliamentary pension. ‘JUST A FORMALITY’ Kelloway said he didn’t know about the possible change to the election date. He added that an election could be called long before the proposed date. “Much the same as my constituents, I’m also just learning of the election date proposed in Bill C-65. My focus is squarely on delivering for the people of Cape Breton-Canso, but I look forward to getting briefed on this proposed change when the time comes to debate it,” Kelloway said in a statement. “It’s also worth noting that, especially in the case of a minority government, an election can occur at almost any time. In our system of government, setting an election date can often be just a formality.” The Post reached out to Battiste but did not receive a response to an interview request. MPs can start receiving reduced pension payments at age 55 and qualify for a full pension at 65. A backbench MP earned an annual salary of $194,600 prior to the April 1 pay raise that brought that figure up to $202,700 annual salary. A proposed change to the federal Election Act means Sydney-Victoria MP Jaime Battiste would meet the six-year threshold required for the Members of Parliament Pension Plan. COULD COST $120M According to Canadian Taxpayers Federation director Franco Terrazzano, if Kelloway isn’t re-elected, the proposed election date change means he would receive a starting pension of $35,000 and a $106,000 severance. His pension to age 90 would amount to $1,515,000, amounting to a $1,409,000 increased cost to taxpayers. Battiste’s starting pension and severance would be identical but his pension to age 90 and increased cost to taxpayers would both be $1,784,000. Terrazzano said if all 80 MPs lose their seats, moving the federal election ahead by a week will cost Canadians as much as $120 million. “I've heard the government say that they're moving this for Diwali. But I think if you ask any Canadian on the street, they would say, ‘OK, well, if you're going to move the election, why don't you just move the election a week early instead of a week back?’”