CALGARY - Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is on a cross-country tour looking at what to do about Canada's crucial pension system.
But he can't get away from under one persistent theme -- questions about the generous MPs' pension plan.
Some people have singled out MP's and civil servants for their rich post-retirement benefits and want to know why Flaherty doesn't start his reform right there.
For his part, Flaherty says he doesn't qualify for a pension so there is no self-interest involved.
He says the point of discussing pension reform is to make sure Canadians don't struggle when they retire.
Some favour an increase in Canada Pension Plan benefits but Flaherty says that proposal means higher premiums for employers.
The Canadian Labour Congress argues that increases in business contributions would be minimal under a proposal to bulk up the CPP.
Ken Georgetti will tell the conference today that his plan to double CPP benefits will only cost employers an extra seven cents per hour per employee.
