Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty responds to a question during Question Period in the House of Commons in Ottawa, Thursday October 18, 2012.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
Changes to MP pensions have been hived off from the government's second budget bill, passed and sent to the Senate in a flurry of all-party cooperation.
The omnibus budget legislation, introduced Thursday and known as Bill C-45, will continue through the House of Commons with its remaining clauses, while a new bill called C-46 will be printed that contains the changes to MP pensions.
On Friday morning, MPs gave unanimous consent to a Conservative motion to have the bill approved through second reading, committee study, report stage and third reading all in one fell sweep without a recorded vote.
The Liberal party immediately claimed victory, noting that Interim Liberal Leader Bob Rae had proposed such a move Thursday during Question Period. Prime Minister Stephen Harper said at the time that he would consider the idea.
The changes to MP pensions will move MPs to a 50-50 contribution rate. That will mean individual contributions will rise from $11,060 to $38,769, starting gradually in 2013. Also, after the next election, new MPs will not be allowed to access their MP pensions until age 65, up from age 55.