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dawjsi liersgh staff reporter york region mps say they re cer tainly entitled to a fatter pay- cheque with some arguing theyre still underpaid compared to politi cians in other countries in fact most called their pay hike quite modest considering the high costs that come with the job and dont understand why the move is being criticized under the new pay package approved friday mps will get a twopercent raise on their base salaries each year over the next four years they will also get an increase in their 21300 taxfree allowance and their housing allowance irame- diately doubles to 12000 with the increase- mps will earn jthe s equivalent of 140000 if it was fully taxed up from the current value of 119000 cabinet minis- ters will see their pay jump from the equivalent of 1 67600 to 192300 but oak ridges liberal mp bryonwilfert explained mps wont take home anywhere near 140000 because of their expenses adding canadian mp salaries are still ranked only ninth in the world we havent had a pay increase since 1991 and we only make 37 percent of what us congressmen make wilfert said i guess you get what you pay foiy he added the beefed up housing allowance is particularly important noting the previous allowance only amounted to about 50 a day mps were previously given a 6000 housing allowanced its hard to find a hotel room and dinner for 50 a night wilfert said t thornhill liberal mp elinor caplan also called the increase modest adding it should reflect society today the days of having only the wealthy participate in politics are gone she said although i know there are some people who dont think mps should get paid at all although caplan knew what the job paid when she ran for her seat last year she said has a more real istic view now that shes in the position commuting is very expensive she said markharn tory mp jim jones noted he has often had to pay expenses out of his own pocket although he supports the pay increase because its in line with what wasgiven to other public ser vants he suggested it would have been better if it had been approved before last years election- i think the vote should be taken a year before the election to be in place for the next parliament he said butjhe salary increase isnt really an issue i probably wont even notice it after taxes york north liberal mp karen kraft sloan noted the increase is actually less than those often approved for the private sector adding the raise shouldnt be criti cized because mps salaries have been frozen for so long kraft sloan added she wont take allowance hike advantage of a clause in the deal allowing her to opt back into the pension plan maintaining shell stand by her previous decision to hot accept the plan it was a personal deci sion to opt out of the pen- sion plan i live by the personal decisions i make she said calling reform mps who asked for the clause to be inserted hypo critical theyve reneged on their previously publicized oppo sition to the pension plan however under the new deal mps who have opted out of the pension plan will now get a severance pack age when they quit or are defeated some reform mps have criticized the pay raise stat ing theyll donate their por tion to charity and liberal mp guy st julien has informed the- commons pay office to deduct his raise and use it to help pay off the national debt jones accused those refus ing the raise of -grand- standing other york mps insisted they already give consider ably to charity bryonwilfert you get what you pay for jim jones pays expenses out of own pocket fl brandname selection includes guess perry ellis manager sanfana calvin klein polo sport buffalo ikeda levis remember dad with a great valuepriced gift hurry in special offers good while quantites last r gol towel b6bw- mens jewellery watches excludes timex watches menfs designer ermenegilcla zegna dress shirts ser t each reg 9997 with any mens knights of round 2mjtole purchase most accojrofeyirehirr menfsi talph lauren polo polo sport l4e bmmbtw assorted styles now colours 100 cotton 8m mens boulevar am- bathrobes cotton polyester blend hwy 404 t c 1 n sfeeles ave x iv l st one location only store hours mondayfriday 10 am 9 pm saturday 930 am 600 pm sunday 12 noon 500 pm edch rep69i99 to 7999 mosf valuable dda sweatshirts large only xjail f was 1999 m then 999 wy now w each 100 cotton assorted izeff now joe boxer m shops on steeles 404 shop sears outlet store and save big on surplus 5 from our catalogue and retail storesplus special buys source factory close outs and everyday good values regular p rices quoted are sears catalogue or retail prices these offers apply only to clearance centre merchandise and excludes catalogue purchases although we strive for accuracy in copy and sean club illustration unintentional errors i i 0d member youro may occur i mud mltjing iho poll copyright 1998 sears canada inc catalogue shopping is available at sears outlet centre to place an order 24 hrs call 1800 26sears 1 800 2673277