As of April 1, Canadian Members of Parliament (MPs) are poised to receive a substantial pay raise, propelling them to the second-highest paid elected officials in the world, just behind their American counterparts.
According to figures obtained from the office of the Speaker of the House of Commons, MPs will see their base salary increase by $8,500, elevating it to $203,100 annually. The prime minister’s salary will also see a significant boost, rising by $17,000 to reach $406,200.
Despite these increases, a recent Leger poll commissioned by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation reveals widespread opposition among Canadians, with 80% expressing disapproval of the automatic April 1 pay raise. The sentiment against the raise is particularly strong, with 62% strongly opposing it and an additional 18% somewhat opposing.
Critics argue that with the federal government facing significant debt and many taxpayers struggling, MPs do not deserve such raises. Franco Terrazzano of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation emphasizes the need for MPs to halt these raises, especially in the current economic climate.
Interestingly, the mechanism for these raises is tied to average wage increases in the public sector, overseen by the House’s Board of Internal Economy. Previous freezes on MPs’ salaries during economic downturns, such as during the 2008-09 global financial crisis, have been implemented, but no such action has been indicated ahead of the upcoming federal budget.
In terms of global comparisons, after the April 1 raise, Canadian MPs will rank only behind their American counterparts in terms of salary. The United States pays its elected members of Congress an average of US$174,000 annually, with Canada following closely behind with the new MP salary of $203,100.
Despite these salary increases, public sentiment remains largely opposed, underscoring the disconnect between parliamentary pay raises and the financial concerns of ordinary Canadians. (Courtesy National Post )