James Alexander ROBB
ROBB, The Hon. James Alexander, P.C.
Personal Data
- Party
- Liberal
- Constituency
- Châteauguay--Huntingdon (Quebec)
- Birth Date
- August 10, 1859
- Deceased Date
- November 11, 1929
- Website
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Robb_(politician)
- PARLINFO
- http://www.parl.gc.ca/parlinfo/Files/Parliamentarian.aspx?Item=3c716a03-43b1-401d-820f-7921b10e5565&Language=E&Section=ALL
- Profession
- merchant, miller
Parliamentary Career
- October 26, 1908 - July 29, 1911
- LIBHuntingdon (Quebec)
- September 21, 1911 - October 6, 1917
- LIBHuntingdon (Quebec)
- December 17, 1917 - October 4, 1921
- L LIBChâteauguay--Huntingdon (Quebec)
- Chief Opposition Whip (January 1, 1919 - January 1, 1919)
- December 6, 1921 - December 28, 1921
- LIBChâteauguay--Huntingdon (Quebec)
- January 19, 1922 - September 5, 1925
- LIBChâteauguay--Huntingdon (Quebec)
- Minister of Trade and Commerce (December 29, 1921 - August 16, 1923)
- Minister of Immigration and Colonization (August 17, 1923 - September 4, 1925)
- October 29, 1925 - July 2, 1926
- LIBChâteauguay--Huntingdon (Quebec)
- Minister of Finance and Receiver General (September 5, 1925 - June 28, 1926)
- Minister of Trade and Commerce (November 13, 1925 - June 28, 1926)
- September 14, 1926 - May 30, 1930
- LIBChâteauguay--Huntingdon (Quebec)
- Minister of Finance and Receiver General (September 25, 1926 - November 11, 1929)
- Minister of National Defence (October 1, 1926 - October 7, 1926)
- November 2, 1926 - November 11, 1929
- LIBChâteauguay--Huntingdon (Quebec)
- Minister of Finance and Receiver General (September 25, 1926 - November 11, 1929)
Most Recent Speeches (Page 5 of 1968)
June 13, 1929
Mr. ROBB:
The hon. member for Peace
River inquired about this. Major Bell died on January 13, 1929. Under his will, made some years earlier, his estate was left entirely in trust for his three sons and no provision
was made for his widow. The late Major Bell had served the Dominion for over thirty-eight years and was eligible, in respect of length of service, for a pension of $7,000 per annum, which he could claim when he reached the age of sixty; his age at his death was fifty-four years. He had been a contributor for thirty-five years to superannuation fund No. 2, under the Civil Service Superannuation and Retirement Act, and had contributed sums amounting to $3,510.36, which were entirely surrendered to that fund due to Major Bell's oversight to elect to transfer to superannuation fund No. 5. Had Major Bell died -prior to January 1, 1925, Mrs. Bell would have been eligible, under the Widows' Annuities Act of 1927, to receive a pension of $1,750 per annum; or had Major Bell elected to transfer to superannuation fund No. 5, Mrs. Bell would also have been eligible, without any cost to Major Bell, for an annuity of $1,750.
Major Bell could, under the provisions of the Civil Service Superannuation Act of 1924, have elected to transfer from superannuation fund No. 2 to superannuation fund No. 5, and by an additional contribution equivalent to the difference between the 3^ per cent rate of contributions to fund No. 2 and the 5 per cent rate of contributions to fund No. 5, plus 4 per cent simple interest, have provided for an annuity for Mrs. Bell of $3,500. It seems reasonable to consider that Major Bell's apparent neglect to provide for Mrs. Bell must have been occasioned through his devotion to his work having kept him from giving sufficient consideration to the situation in which Mrs. Bell might be left in the event of his leath. So we are giving the superannuation as if he had transferred to superannuation fund No. 5.
June 13, 1929
Mr. ROBB:
Why limit it to packaged
goods?
June 13, 1929
Mr. ROBB:
Yes.
June 13, 1929
Mr. ROBB:
I have no information. All I am interested in is the obligation of the state to a public servant who served the public for thirty-eight years and who contributed to that superannuation fund.
June 13, 1929
Mr. ROBB:
I do not recall the case to which my hon. friend refers, but the treasury board have one rule that they follow, and they are compelled to follow it under the act. If the official was dismissed for irregularities, for theft in office or being drunk on duty or anything of that sort, then under the act we cannot pay him, but wherever under the act we can legally pay him, the treasury board is disposed to deal generously with the public servants.
Another hon. gentleman a moment ago referred to those in minor positions. The Civil Service Superannuation Act provides the same privileges for the lower paid servants as for the higher paid, except that the compensation is based upon the salary and the amount that has been paid in. My hon. friend from Mackenzie has very correctly stated the position. I am not going to argue it at any length, but if hon. gentlemen do not wish to pass this item the responsibility will not be upon the government.
I repeat, Major Bell died on January 13, 1929. Had he died on January 1, 1925, under the law Mrs. Bell would have been entitled to exactly the amount that we are asking the committee to vote to-night, so we are only giving her what, she is entitled to under the law.