Federal MPs only work 119 days

[treehugger]

On cp24.

The year 2010 was a slack year for Federal MPs as they only worked 119 days in the whole year.

"They have resorted more frequently to passing enabling legislation giving the government a broad discretion to act in the future without going back to Parliament for approval. The upshot is the gov. evades scrutiny and Cdns are left in the dark about what their Federal politicions are up to."

Before all of the left wingers start getting heart palpitations and ready to attack,

"This problem predates P.M. Harper, The hours have gone down steadily since 1975."

The cp24 poll also said that 93% of the people wanted then to work more days.

What do they do with all of the rest of the year??

[Scotty]

On cp24.

The year 2010 was a slack year for Federal MPs as they only worked 119 days in the whole year.

"They have resorted more frequently to passing enabling legislation giving the government a broad discretion to act in the future without going back to Parliament for approval. The upshot is the gov. evades scrutiny and Cdns are left in the dark about what their Federal politicions are up to."

Before all of the left wingers start getting heart palpitations and ready to attack,

"This problem predates P.M. Harper, The hours have gone down steadily since 1975."

The cp24 poll also said that 93% of the people wanted then to work more days.

What do they do with all of the rest of the year??

Just because the House sat for 119 days doesn't mean MPs were out lounging around watching television the rest of the time. They do work from their offices, both in Ottawa and in their constituencies, and attend all manner of meetings, dinners, etc. in their ridings, as well as attending party meetings. The one thing you will rarely find is an MP taking a lot of days off from politics. This is not the Senate, and their jobs are not guaranteed.

[William Ashley]

I think the point this raises is that a forumula should be created for pay

example

base pay: $12,000 (for on call status and other concerns)

hourly fees ($20/hour)

------------------------

contiuency consulatation fees (by hour)

constitency services (non lobby / non party activities) (by hour)

public forums as represenative of riding (non party) (by hour)

governmental services on request of the government(by hours)

sitting in house (by hour)

committee activities (by hour) in session

prepatory work for comittees(50% hourly rate)

+ benefits

office budgets would be rerouted through the government finance, and local federal offices would be used for supply orders and have to be picked up. (or picked up and shipped from ottawa or another place they get supplies from the federal supply chain.

cut all office funds. They can work out of their home if they need to, or a government office in a given federal building in their riding.

If say they work 120 days for 2 hours a day that works out to $2400 (240 hours per year) + perhaps an additional 100 days doing other activities - so about another $2000 perhaps

so an MP's salary would be about $4400+12000 or 16400. === but if they worked more they would get paid more.

MP's jobs don't have to be seen as the only source of income.

If senators are in retirement (with plush government pensions anyway) a low payrate for a few days of sitting and "casual consulation" for the public service, shouldn't be issued, they are prestige positions.

Even if a 20$/hour rate is too low (2x the highest minimum wage in Canada for standing up and clapping now and then or reading a speech... tough work....) a $40/hour rate would increase their rate to

about the poverty line.

Things not covered would be caucus meetings, lobby consulation from non constituents, and campaigning.

They would actually have to have real meetings not just fake ones or set up ones

but say a person sees 10 constituents a day at 30 minutes a meeting that is 5 hours a day so that is $100 or up to 30,000 or so.

I do advocate for a "dual represenation" system though. that is each riding has two representatives - and they rotate between ottawa and their riding. or atleast 1 staff allowance. - or one proxy for a riding or sitting allowed.

(wierd to have a proxy sit in parliament) but it would solve some issues..

also they should add enough seats for all MP's to sit in parliament.

Parliamentary rules baring people from voting due to not sitting at a specific time is a little "backward"

If someone gets delayed in the halls is there an obsruction of parliament on the books...

not that I see.

Yet "Freedom from Obstruction" is a privelege, yet the house itself infringes those freedoms..

http://www.parl.gc.ca/compendium/web-content/c_d_applicationparliamentaryprivilegeindividualmembershousecommons-e.htm

Oh I think a "ANNUAL BONUS" on "government revenue" once the debt was paid down would be ok too, as long as there were no taxes.

Edited December 29, 2010 by William Ashley

[guyser]

What do they do with all of the rest of the year??

If you're Tony Clement you eat ice cream daily, cut ribbons for the new Dollar Store and write letters to the editor with language like a jilted 11 year old girl. Tony has skin about as thick as tracing paper.

Not to mention going on twitter to tell people "I saved a drowning girl" when in fact the current was too strong for poor Tony (snicker) but his elderly in laws were able to save her.

119 huh. Good ol' Tony probably half that.

Edited December 29, 2010 by guyser

[Topaz]

Do you agree that the Conservatives have the largest government and have worked in least?