A private members bill designed to change the rules surrounding MP pensions is due for a final vote in the House of Commons on Wednesday but it will not strip London's former Mayor of his $122,000 per year payments.
When it was first introduced in 2013, the law was supposed to deny an MP a government pension if they've been convicted of a serious crime. But it's been watered down and a clause pertaining to retroactive crimes has been removed, meaning it will only apply to MP behavior after the law passes, if it passes. Fontana will still be eligible for his pension even though he was convicted of fraud and breach of trust for a cheque written back when he was an MP.
The current law has a loophole that allows an MP or Senator facing criminal charges to retire or resign prior to being convicted, and maintain their full pension.
