Durham MP Bev Oda announced today she will step down from office at the end of this month.
In a letter posted on her website, the Minister of International Cooperation said she told Prime Minister Stephen Harper of her decision two weeks ago. Her last day in office will be July 31, 2012.
Oda, Canada's first Japanese-Canadian MP and cabinet minister in Canadian history, was first elected to office in 2004. In that time she also served as Canadian Heritage Minister, a position which also allowed her to focus on the status of women. She was given her current portfolio in 2007.
In the letter, Oda said it was an "honour and privilege" to serve her constituents.
"For over eight years, it has been an honor and privilege to have served the constituents in Clarington, Scugog and Uxbridge," she said. "As the Minister for International Cooperation, I have had the opportunity to witness the hardships of the worlds most vulnerable peoples and have witnessed the great compassion of Canadians for those in need."
She then said she is “grateful" for the support of her staff and colleagues.
"I wish to express my appreciation to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet for their outstanding leadership,“ she said.
The controversial MP did not say why she is stepping down.
Controversies
Her actions during her time as MP have left some raising their eyebrows.
In 2006 it was revealed that Oda expensed about $5,500 in limo rides at the Juno Awards in Halifax. She ended up paying back taxpayers $2,200.
Just two years later, Oda's penchant for limousine service got her into trouble again. The MP reportedly billed taxpayers for more than $17,000 worth of limo rides in 2008.
In 2011, Oda admitted to having one of her staff members hand-write an ammendment to a memo that had already been signed. The 2009 memo, from the Canadian International Development Agency, originally recommended that Canadian faith-based ecumenical organization KAIROS, receive funding. However, someone had penned the word "not" in the recommendation line. The funding request was subsequently ignored.
Most recently, in April 2012, an investigation revealed that Oda charged taxpayers for her stay at the Savoy Hotel for three nights, each at a cost of $665. Oda had refused an offer to stay at the less expensive hotel where the conference was being held. She also charged taxpayers for a $16-orange juice and limo service between the hotel and conference. She eventually paid back $1,353.81 of the costs.
Oda apologized for her actions, calling her filed expenses "unacceptable."
After Oda made Tuesday's announcement, some of her critics used it as a chance to take one more dig at her and repeat calls for pension reform.
In a news release, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation said it estimates Oda’s annual Parliamentary pension will instantly start at $52,182, adding up to $701,464 by the time she reaches the age of 80.
“Bev Oda’s lifetime pension should cover about 43,841 glasses of $16 orange juice,” Derek Fildebrandt, the CTF’s national research director, said in a statement.
The organization wants the government to overhaul the pension system for MPs.
“It’s wrong that (Oda) can collect $52,183 in annual pension benefits after only eight years on the job,” said CTF’s federal director Gregory Thomas. “Especially when the average new Canada Pension Plan monthly payment in 2012 is $534.10.”
According to the CTF, taxpayers contributed $25.81 to the Parliamentary pension plan in 2011-12 for every $1 federal politicians contributed.
PM lauds Oda's achievements
Despite the controversies that dogged the MP, Harper issued a statement Tuesday afternoon thanking Oda for her "hard work and dedication."
"Bev has made a significant contribution to her riding, her province and her country since her election to Parliament in 2004," he said.
“Under Bev’s guidance, Canada has led a significant initiative to save the lives of mothers, children and newborns in the developing world. Bev has also promoted accountability and effectiveness for Canada’s aid programs and has championed high-profile efforts to respond to humanitarian tragedies in Haiti, Pakistan and the Horn of Africa. Through Bev’s leadership, Canada has also met, ahead of schedule, its commitment to double aid to Africa," he added. "This is a record of which to be proud."
“On behalf of, and together with her friends and colleagues, Laureen (Harper) and I offer our best wishes to Bev as she leaves Parliament to move on to other challenges and opportunities," he said.
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