The Canadian Taxpayers Federation released estimates for transition allowances on Wednesday and says outgoing MLAs will be paid $13.4 M to leave office.

The CTF says Redford tossed the allowances during her reign as premier but that the cut was not retroactive so many MLAs who were defeated in Tuesday night’s election will still reap the benefits.

“What we’re seeing is these big, whopping cheques for MLAs who are simply just leaving office and that’s the only reason that they’re getting these cheques. So the big final number that taxpayers can look forward to is $13.4 million in these transition allowances that we’re paying to defeated or retired, just general, outgoing MLAs, the ones that were elected before 2012,” said Paige MacPherson, Alberta Director Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

The CTF says Redford should be commended for scrapping the payouts and that she did not take one when she left but that she could have closed the door on her way out.

“Alison Redford, at that time, or premiers who came after her, could have made this a retroactive policy and they chose not to and that’s why we’re seeing this big price tag today,” said MacPherson.

After the May 5th vote, there were 25 retired and 43 defeated MLAs and the CTF says they will be taking home big bonuses when they leave.

According to the taxpayers group, defeated MLA Gene Zwozdesky will collect $874,000 and $873,000 will go to retired MLA Yvonne Fritz.

“So some of these MLAs are getting absolutely massive payouts for doing absolutely nothing other than walking out the door,” said MacPherson.

MacPherson says those who are leaving could forgo the allowance if they choose.

“It is certainly something that MLAs could voluntarily do. We saw Alison Redford not take her transition allowance and definitely I would say, yea, that is the right thing to do,” she said. “Most of the MLAs who are receiving these transition allowances are now gone, either retired or defeated after last night, but there are still some left so taxpayers are still going to be on the hook for payments after this and certainly it would be nice to see those MLAs who are still in office, one of whom is our premier now, premier-elect, voluntarily say no, I would not like to take my transition allowance.”

Currently, MLAs are also eligible to receive RRSP contributions from taxpayers of up to 16.65 percent of their base compensation per year and the CTF says taxpayers are contributing a total RRSP contribution of $7.1 million for defeated and retired MLAs.

Click HERE to see the CTF transition allowance estimates or scroll the document below.