Dear Editor,

OK, just for fun, read Mark Warawa's response, then look again at my letter to him (below). I challenge you to find any reference to my letter in his response.

Who writes this stuff? This guy gets his salary and benefits because he "represents" us in his constituency.

Good Lord!

"Dear Mr. Boylan,

"Thank you for your letter regarding pensions for Members of Parliament.

"Our government is making every effort to continue growth and fiscal responsibility and we are reviewing every form of government spending so as to make informed decisions on where changes can be made and savings can be found. This includes an examination of the MP pension plan. We have already frozen the wages of Members of Parliament and Ministers, and are looking at other ways to reduce government spending.

"Canadians gave us a strong mandate to protect and complete Canada's economic recovery, and we are working to do just that. While we have not reached any decisions for the spending review yet, we continue to consult with Canadians and organizations across Canada on how to best move forward.

"Once again, thank you for taking the time to write to me.

"Mark Warawa, MP, Langley"

Dear MP Warawa,

Mark, I have taken almost verbatim, a letter to the Editor in the Vancouver Sun from Mr. Scott McGillivray of North Vancouver. I would like to ask for your comments:

"The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) had once again highlighted the gold-plated pension plans that our members of Parliament enjoy.

"No other group in Canada is able to vote themselves a plan that is head and shoulders above anything available to the rest of the population, public or private.

"The CTF states that it takes $23 of taxpayer funding for every $1 an MP contributes.

"And qualifications like a minimum six years "employment" only add further insult.

"I have yet to hear a single MP communicate to their constituents why they believe this is a reasonable and just plan.

"That is because they have no reasonable and just answer. I call them cowards.

"I challenge any MP, sitting or retired, to counter my letter and justify why their "leadership" position entitles them to this more-than-generous arrangement.

"The only ones I see providing leadership are the likes of Preston Manning, who chose not to join the pension and saw it for what it is: an outright fleecing of the Canadian taxpayer."

Now, Mark, I know that you have served the requisite term of office to qualify for this "hard-earned" pension, so I thought it might be appropriate to give you the opportunity to comment on the plan as it stands.

Perhaps enlighten us as to how it could be justified, in such a short term of office, and perhaps explain why more high-minded fellows chose not to follow in the path of Preston Manning and turn it down.

Most of us, let's face it, never have access to such a lucrative pension plan. In fact, many of us, like myself, have no pension plan, other than what we can save for out of our earnings, by way of RRSP, and perhaps other private savings.

We live in "tough economic times," we hear from all areas of government. Yet, these tough times seem to bypass those whose salaries, benefits, and yes, gold-plated pension plans are paid from our tax dollars.

I would appreciate your comments.

Wayne Boylan, Aldergrove