Province reviews severance rules in light of Cimino resignation

Northernlife.ca attempted, unsuccessfully, to contact Cimino directly and through the NDP to see if he will take the money or, as some have suggested, donate it to charity.

But NDP Leader Andrea Horwath told the Canadian Press on Wednesday that getting a $58,000 severance after five months' work "will raise a lot of eyebrows" among Ontario taxpayers.

Horwath says she'd look forward to the government introducing possible changes to the severance package rules.

Government house leader Yasir Naqvi says the Board of Internal Economy will take a look at the severance packages, but notes MPPs do not get a provincial pension, unlike their federal counterparts.

"It's up to the former NDP MPP or for Andrea Horwath to make a determination whether they want to accept the severance or not," said Naqvi. "It's an issue that the Board of Internal Economy may have to look at."

Cimino announced his resignation through an email, citing personal health and family reasons. He stated he wouldn't be speaking publicly on the issue and asked for privacy.

While no date has been set for a byelection to replace him, the Toronto Star, citing a source within Kathleen Wynne's Liberal government, reported Wednesday an election is expected to be called in early 2015.

Candidates who ran against Cimino in June have already announced they will run for the nomination again for the byelection, including Liberal Andrew Olivier, who finished a close second, Progressive Conservative candidate Paula Peroni and Green Party candidate Casey Lalonde.

No one has publicly declared their interest for the NDP as of yet, although former candidate Paul Loewenberg has said he's considering another run. And on Nov. 28, Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas said her party has already started its recruitment process.

The party is reaching out to a diversity of people to encourage them to run, including First Nations, women and francophones.

“This work is happening right now,” she said. “Phone calls are taking place. Lunch and coffees are happening … There have been a large number of people stepping forward and they are presently going through the selection process.”


With files from The Canadian Press