Circa 1990, I was in lower middle management of a Canadian political party. For a party to be successful, it needs people (like I used to be) to keep the election machine oiled between elections. The party could not afford to offend too many of us.

In a like manner, the PMO and Cabinet cannot afford to offend the back-bench MPs. It is rather embarassing when an MP walks off the party stage. Remember Stockwell Day?

There are all sorts of little links in western democracy that keep it running the way it does run. Some links are well known; others are not. It's an amazing feat to lead a political party and not have it blow up!

And yes, there are "bribes" for bank bench MPS to stay on the party line. The pension is one of them.

Many elected representatives do not stay much longer than 10 years at this job. It is a very hard job.