Several Ottawa members of parliament are now eligible for the government's "gold-plated" pension plan.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, Tory Royal Galipeau and NDP Paul Dewar were all elected six years ago on Jan. 23, 2006.

By 2015, the expected end of this session of Parliament, Baird will be eligible for a $68, 000 a year pension.

It will rise to $96, 000 a year if he is re-elected and stays in office until 2019.

Galipeau will qualify for about $45, 500 a year by 2015.

"In forty years of community service, I've never thought of pension," said Galipeau.

NDP leadership candidate and Ottawa Centre MP Paul Dewar will qualify for $46, 000 by the end of 2015.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation estimates that for every dollar MPs contribute to their pensions, the taxpayer kicks in about $23.

There's speculation that pension plans might change when the new federal budget comes out as the government tries to slash the deficit.

With a report from CTV Ottawa's Norman Fetterley