Retiring MLAs costing hundreds of thousands in severance

P.E.I. taxpayers will be on the hook for an estimated $372,000 in severance pay for the six MLAs who've said they won't seek re-election in 2015.

There will be more money paid should others decide to retire or fail to win re-election. Every MLA who leaves the legislature is eligible for severance pay, whether they resign, decide not to seek re-election, or try to get re-elected and lose.

Severance pays out one months salary for every year of service, topping out at a year's base salary, which is currently $68,721. That's in addition to an MLA's pension. CBC News contacted all six MLAs by email asking for comment, including Premier Robert Ghiz, but no one responded.

NDP leader Mike Redmond said he doesn't understand why MLAs would require severance pay in the first place.

Quite frankly if you decide not to run again or if you're defeated, then you're defeated and you move on and you graciously accept work somewhere else, said Redmond.

I would not understand or cannot understand why we would think a severance package is owed to somebody whos decided 'I'm not going to run next election.

Redmond said if he becomes premier he'll get rid of severance pay for MLAs.

For mobile device users: Are the current severance packages for P.E.I. MLAs reasonable?