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wie 8- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, June 2, 1998 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Shepherd considers opting back into MP pension By Chris Hall Port Perry Star Durham MP Alex Shepherd says he's undecided on whether or not he'll opt back in on the federal pension plan. While he took a strong stance against the pension when first elected as the Liberal MP in 1993 -- he opted out in July of 1995 --Mr. Shepherd told The Star on Friday that he is reconsidering his decision. Changes to the MPs' pension plan, as well as a proposed 2 per cent wage hike, were to be presented in parliament yesterday, shortly before their summer recess. During his re-election campaign last year, some of Mr. Shepherd's advertise- ments in area newspapers prominently displayed the fact that he had opted out of the plan. One ad he used quoted him as saying "I chose to opt out of the MP's Pension Plan because in these times of deficit reduction and belt tightening I felt it was the only responsible action to take." He now says that the pension, which was too rich for his blood before, 1s now at a more reasonable level. "I opted out before because there was concern at that time that the pension plan was too rich," he said Friday. "Now, they've brought the benefits down; it still seems to be wealthy though. I'm still not happy with the plan but they opened it back up to allow people to opt back into it." When Mr. Shepherd made his original decision to forfeit his pension, it was set up on a scale that would see the federal government contribute $6 for every dollar an MPP put into a pension Alex Shepherd fund. The rate has dropped to $4 for every buck invested by MPs, but Mr. Shepherd says that's still too much. "No private-sector employer can boast that type of pension plan; the best is two to one. It is still a generous plan, and is part of a vicious ongoing circle," he said. "I've got two years to make a decision on it and I plan to talk it over with my family. If someone keeps opening the door and showing you something, you've got to take a look at it." The other part of the pending pro- posal could see MPs' wages increase from approximately $64,000 a year to $65,500. Their tax-free allowance of $21,000 will also be increased by 2 per cent. The process of having MPs decide on their own pay hikes is something Mr. Shepherd says he does have a problem with, though. "It's a terrible idea for MPs to decide on their wages; someone else should look after that," he said, adding that MPs' budgets have been frozen now for eight years. "We should remove MPs from making wage decisions and let others make the changes. "We had an independent organization review our process, and they agreed that we shouldn't make the decisions and that the pensions were still too high," he said, adding that whoever makes the decisions on wages and pen- sions, neither the MPs nor the public will be totally satisfied. As for himself, Mr. Shepherd says that he doesn't think he is underpaid. "From my own perspective I think I'm adequately compensated. We put a lot of days, a lot of weeks into the job and in some cases you may need two residences, two sets of clothes... but it is a unique job and one I enjoy. "In terms of making money I was better off in private practice." Ww 'NAPOLEON: $4,000 haul in break-in at Port Perry home More than $4,000 in items, including electronic equipment and a rifle, were stolen from a Port Perry home after thieves entered through a kitchen window. Durham Regional Police report that close to $4,500 in goods were taken from a Blossom Crt. address after thieves removed a north kitchen window from the home around 1:30 a.m. on May 29. Thieves grabbed 100 CDs valued at $2,000; a amplifier worth $400; a $600 Lajo electric guitar; an acoustic guitar worth $100; a Samsung 35mm camera valued at $230; a $600 stereo receiver; a $400 CD player; and a Browning lever action .22- calibre rifle estimated to be worth $100 as well as a couple of guitar cases. The thieves then left through a kitchen door, police say. FIREPLACES There's Never Been A Better Time To Buy! GD17 DV Zero Natural Gas or Propane NOW OPEN CARMAN'S PORTRAIT STUDIO! REMOTE Printed on FUJI'S / 15h Soforeme Home entered Durham Police were called to a Canal St. cot- tage after thieves broke in and stole numerous items. Police believe that sometime around 2:45 a.m. on May 27 thieves entered the home after removing a 18 by 30 inch window. After gaining entry, police say the thieves searched the entire resi- dence before taking a 20- inch Citizen TV worth $400 and a VCR valued at INSTALLED Standard Installation (20 ft. gas line) CABINET Paper for a A wereme portrait ae i AE RD BBQ" S om SX CHIC wi = "400 = (Model Shown: Lifestyle #308) NVAN AIDE WAN Y | = alla] =i WaNed SANT/ANS{ Sp [018 EY = LORS al = \VARS IO Tol i au RAAT oT) (VAL NC To [SY WoT FS Exc 30 {515 (2 [eVT HY [oT ER I [VERT Ho J RA 010 o Ty ICR Sl gTe NVR Ho Lo Ey 0 oT o Ty ORF: TR Ho [0 BF: Ra [0]! 'NAPOLEON: Lifestyle Series 44,000 BTU"s with optional ES, $300. Infa-red Rear Flame 1 HOUR PHOTO A 2.5-horsepower boat motor and a gas tank were also discovered missing. Police were alerted of the break-in when a family e Black Finish Roll Top Hood. member came to check on the cottage. A neighbor also became | suspicious during the early morning hours of May 27 after hearing voices in the area of the break-in. IFlcarman's foto source™ 985-8821 COREG] Port Perry ¢ J f roducing 'The Star' Editorial Staff | cow Jeff Mitchell has been the managing editor of the Port Perry Star COMMUNITY since joining the paper in the summer of 1994. In his role he oversees The Port Perry Star is an the operations of the editorial department, assigning stories and photo award winning community assignments to reporters, and supervising the layout of editorial a Seon _. content in the paper. He also writes the editorials, and news and on 10 yes. feature stories. If you have any story suggestions, or any other input on the editorial Pont} erry' Newspoper content of The Star, give Jeff a call any time at 985-7383. of cholce