Outspoken government backbencher Ken McDonald went against his party again yesterday as the House of Commons voted to set the wheels in motion on a Bloc bill to increase Old Age Security benefits.

The Bloc, Conservatives and NDP all supported the 10 per cent pay raise for those aged 65-74 while most Liberals voted against it. One who sided with the opposition parties was Avalon MP Ken McDonald.

The motion was non-binding and procedural so the minority government still stands. The Bloc Quebecois has set October 29 as the deadline to have meaningful progress on their wishes.

It’s estimated that the increase in OAS would cost Ottawa $16-billion over five years.

OAS, the Canada Pension Plan and the Guaranteed Income Supplement are the cornerstones of Ottawa’s retirement income system.