Why should Julie Payette be entitled to a lifetime pension?

— CONSERVATIVE MP LUC BERTHOLD.

OTTAWA • A Conservative MP and senator have launched a House of Commons petition calling for the government to block governors general such as Julie Payette from receiving their generous pension if they prematurely leave their post.

“When someone leaves their job, they are not entitled to employment insurance. Why should Julie Payette be entitled to a lifetime pension? I invite all Canadians that are as shocked as we are by this unacceptable situation to sign and share this petition,” Conservative MP Luc Berthold said in a statement.

The Quebec MP is sponsoring the official House of Commons petition on behalf of his Conservative senator colleague Claude Carignan, who tabled a private member's bill two weeks ago that would financially cut off any governor general who leaves the job for non-medical reasons before the end of the five-year mandate.

The new petition calls for the federal government to essentially enact the changes contained in Carignan's bill, which would make only governors general who finish their mandate eligible for pension and benefits and cancel any payments to former viceroys who resigned before the end of their term.

In other words, the bill would affect only one person: Julie Payette.

Payette became the first governor general in Canadian history to resign from the post last January after a workplace review concluded she oversaw a toxic, verbally abusive workplace at Rideau Hall. The 57-year-old former astronaut had another 22 months to go in her term.

After the National Post reported on his bill two weeks ago, Carignan says he was “inundated” with messages of support from Canadians all across the country who were “shocked” by the fact that Payette still receives full pension and benefits despite resigning.

Legislation called the Governor General's Act states that anyone who held the role is eligible for a lifetime annuity, no matter when or how they leave the job. It currently stands at $149,484, but is set to rise slowly over time.

In addition, former governors general are entitled to a lifetime expense program worth up to $206,000 per year from the budget of the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General.

Both Carignan and Berthold think that is unacceptable and that “anachronism” should be fixed.

“It is inconceivable and irresponsible that an individual who leaves before completing their mandate would automatically receive a lifetime pension, regardless of how long they have been fulfilling their duties,” Carignan said in a statement.

Berthold added that the petition is meant for Canadians to share their frustration directly to the Trudeau government.

“People are outraged, with good reason, and it is time to tell Prime Minister Trudeau directly,” he said.