Embattled Harper minister Bev Oda resigns

[OffsideSpecialist]

OTTAWA — International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda is leaving politics at the end of the month. She announced Tuesday that she will no longer be an MP as of July 31.

According to a statement on her website, Oda told Prime Minister Stephen Harper two weeks ago that she would be retiring from politics, ending an eight-year career, the last five as the minister responsible for the Canadian International Development Agency.

...

Oda has been a lightening rod for criticism, from her spending controversies that included a stay in London, U.K., at the swanky Savoy hotel — which included a $16 glass of orange juice — to inserting the word "not" into a memo from senior public officials that recommended funding a faith-based group.

Read more: http://www.canada.com/news/Embattled...#ixzz1zaOpZygv

She is my home riding (before moving to Ottawa) MP and I am ecstatic to see her gone. Should have happened years ago. Of course, the most notable aspects of her political career were forging documents that eventually caused an election as well as her ridiculous spending to take limos for two blocks in Halifax and the hotel in England.

I imagine that this was a forced resignation. She was an embarassment to the party.

[MarchHare]

Bev Oda's resignation was "not" forced.

[The Reverend]

Now we wait for Peter Mackay...

[Caged Great]

Now if only we can get Stephen Harper and the rest of the conservatives to follow suit.

[AMG_G]

Now we wait for Rob Anders...

[Northendzone]

i sure hope that she is eligible for the nice DB pension plan, and some type of golden parachute.........

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by AMG_G

Now we wait for Rob Anders...

I wouldn't hold your breath.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

i sure hope that she is eligible for the nice DB pension plan, and some type of golden parachute.........

She most certainly is. She's served as an MP for more than six years, and she's over the age of 65, so she can start collecting a fat pension cheque courtesy of the Canadian taxpayers starting August 1.

[Kerplunk]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Now if only we can get Stephen Harper and the rest of the conservatives to follow suit.

Throw in the liberals, ndp, bq, and the greens as well, and we will be off to a good start...

Originally Posted by Northendzone

i sure hope that she is eligible for the nice DB pension plan, and some type of golden parachute.........

Hopefully the parachute has a ton of holes in it.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

i sure hope that she is eligible for the nice DB pension plan, and some type of golden parachute.........

I understand why you are saying that, but why would anyone ever choose to run for public office?

You would hope that they would do it for a sense of public service, but if we have seen anything it is that politics is very cutthroat. Why would someone want to take a number of prime wage earning years to put up with the crap I'm sure most must put up with.

Now I know a lot of tear won't, and shouldn't, be spent on Ms Oda leaving office. And while the pensions of parliamentarians is (IMHO) way too lucrative, I'm not sure how far you can cut it before potential candidates decide it isn't worth it to even consider serving. But there isn't any political party who seems to be willing to cut their own pay until there is a major outcry. The last party to campaign on that issue, who said they would never accept that pension and opted out, all signed back on when that option presented itself.

It may gall me to see the pension being paid, but there must be some way to compensate those folks for their public service - other than rare occasions it is a pretty thankless grind of a job.


Edit: not trying to pick on Northendzone - it is just an issue that isn't quite as cut and dried as it may appear.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Word is she will be taking over as CEO of Tropicana any day now.

[FlamesAddiction]

She is the MP for my riding, although I can't say that I know anything more about her than what everyone else does.

Sorry, I realize that this is a useless post. I just like to hear myself type I guess.

[OffsideSpecialist]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

She is the MP for my riding, although I can't say that I know anything more about her than what everyone else does.

Sorry, I realize that this is a useless post. I just like to hear myself type I guess.

Wow, another Clarington resident on here?

[MarchHare]

It may gall me to see the pension being paid, but there must be some way to compensate those folks for their public service - other than rare occasions it is a pretty thankless grind of a job.

MPs already receive a pretty generous salary (although perhaps not equal to what they could earn in the private sector). They also gain a wealth of contacts and networking opportunities through their position, allowing them to slide into a high-paying job when they leave politics either voluntarily or after an election defeat.

How does the MP pension compare to that of senior government employees? Does a six-year MP receive the same pension as a deputy minister who spent his or her entire career in the civil service?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by OffsideSpecialist

Wow, another Clarington resident on here?

Newcastle represent!

[kirant]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

She most certainly is. She's served as an MP for more than six years, and she's over the age of 65, so she can start collecting a fat pension cheque courtesy of the Canadian taxpayers starting August 1.

$710 464 total is the value that CTV reported. Apparently standard for any politician serving her length of time.

Originally Posted by Kerplunk

Throw in the liberals, ndp, bq, and the greens as well, and we will be off to a good start...

Next election will result in an Independent minority with support from the Christian Heritage party.

...I didn't even realize there WAS a Christian Heritage party until I looked up the results.

[OffsideSpecialist]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Newcastle represent!

For real? I spent my entire childhood there! Went to St. Francis and most of my friends are from Newcastle or Bowmanville. I grew up near Orono.

Back on topic, the NDP ethics critic called Oda a disgrace. It is a shame that she will get her government pension.

[TimSJ]

I have nothing to add to this aside from the fact that when i was in school in Barrie i spent a bunch of time in Kirby where one of my best friends lived. Great area Newcastle, Orono, Bomanville etc. He has gone all city and moved to Oshawa now though but he still has a car lot in Bomanville.

[OffsideSpecialist]

Ah cool, I live right by the lil ski hill in Kirby. Though I spend the majority of my time in Ottawa these days.

[Jacks]

No big loss, she was a walking gaffe machine the last few years even though I think some of the 'scandals' were overblown.