[Canada] Ontario MPPs to get 35% pay increase and new pension plan

Provincial politicians in Ontario, Canada, will see a 35 per cent increase in their pay and a new pension plan, following a 16-year salary freeze for members at Queen’s Park, Global News reports.

On May 29, Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy tabled legislation to increase MPP salaries to 75 per cent of those of their colleagues on Parliament Hill. 

The move has reportedly received support from all parties

Previously, an Ontario MPP earned $116,550 per year. After the increase, to bring their pay to 75 per cent of a federal MP’s $209,800 wage, they will now earn $157,250. Cabinet ministers will take home $223,909 per year.

Mr Bethlenfalvy stated that the move was necessary to attract “quality candidates” to run for the provincial legislature and was a “mark of respect for all elected public servants.”

He later told reporters it was “right and fair” to make the change.

“MPPs are people too, they have to pay groceries, they have to pay rent, (spend) time away from their families,” Mr Bethlenfalvy said. “This is for public servants; we are public servants.”

Representatives of the government, the NDP, the Liberals, the Greens and Ontario’s only independent MPP all stood together on May 29 to endorse the move.

John Vanthof of the NDP reportedly expressed his agreement with the government that the move was necessary to recruit better candidates from the private sector.

“When we’re looking for other candidates, qualified people to actually direct the future of this province, for most of them, they have to take a huge pay cut to come here,” he said.

Mr Vanthof praised the premier for “having the guts” to introduce potentially controversial pay-increase legislation.

Source: Global News

(Quotes via original reporting)

Provincial politicians in Ontario, Canada, will see a 35 per cent increase in their pay and a new pension plan, following a 16-year salary freeze for members at Queen’s Park, Global News reports.

On May 29, Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy tabled legislation to increase MPP salaries to 75 per cent of those of their colleagues on Parliament Hill. 

The move has reportedly received support from all parties

Previously, an Ontario MPP earned $116,550 per year. After the increase, to bring their pay to 75 per cent of a federal MP’s $209,800 wage, they will now earn $157,250. Cabinet ministers will take home $223,909 per year.

Mr Bethlenfalvy stated that the move was necessary to attract “quality candidates” to run for the provincial legislature and was a “mark of respect for all elected public servants.”

He later told reporters it was “right and fair” to make the change.

“MPPs are people too, they have to pay groceries, they have to pay rent, (spend) time away from their families,” Mr Bethlenfalvy said. “This is for public servants; we are public servants.”

Representatives of the government, the NDP, the Liberals, the Greens and Ontario’s only independent MPP all stood together on May 29 to endorse the move.

John Vanthof of the NDP reportedly expressed his agreement with the government that the move was necessary to recruit better candidates from the private sector.

“When we’re looking for other candidates, qualified people to actually direct the future of this province, for most of them, they have to take a huge pay cut to come here,” he said.

Mr Vanthof praised the premier for “having the guts” to introduce potentially controversial pay-increase legislation.

Source: Global News

(Quotes via original reporting)