Stone introduced a private member's bill which called for a one-year wage freeze on MLA salaries, which next year could rise by up to 10 per cent since the salaries are tied to inflation.
As British Columbians struggle with the rising cost of gas, food and housing, provincial politicians should freeze their wages next year, B.C. Liberal house leader Todd Stone said Thursday.
Stone introduced a private member’s bill which called for a one-year wage freeze on MLA salaries, which next year could rise by up to 10 per cent since the salaries are tied to inflation.
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“It just isn’t right,” Stone said, for MLAs to receive up to an $11,000 wage increase “considering the significant sacrifices British Columbians are making. British Columbians expect their politicians, their elected officials to lead by example.”
Members of the legislative assembly make $115,045 a year, while cabinet ministers make $172,567. The premier makes $218,587 annually.
British Columbia’s consumer price index was up 7.3 per cent in August, the most recent figures available, compared to August 2021.
Finance Minister Selina Robinson said she’ll consider the proposal but at the same time criticized the B.C. Liberals for hypocrisy given that the minimum wages for the lowest paid workers did not rise for years when they were in power.
Robinson said many British Columbians will begin getting their inflation relief rebates this week through the climate action tax credit. The one-time rebate for low- and moderate-income British Columbians went out Oct. 5 and amount to $164 per adult and $41 per child.
NDP house leader Mike Farnworth said the proper channels to consider the wage freeze is the legislative assembly Management Committee which decides on salaries and wages.
The B.C. Liberal government instituted a wage freeze for MLAs from 2010 to 2013 in response to the global financial crisis.
kderosa@postmedia.com
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