A Raise Undeserved

“The federal government is more than $1 trillion in debt, taxpayers are struggling to afford basic necessities and MPs don’t deserve raises, so this is the perfect time to stop rubber-stamping the pay raises politicians give themselves every year,” said Franco Terrazzano of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

On April 1, Canadian MPs will earn world’s second-highest salary for elected officials

MPs will get an $8,500 raise on April 1, increasing the base salary to $203,100, ranking only behind the U.S. in political salaries

OTTAWA — On the same day Canadians will see an increase in the federal carbon tax, MPs will also see a little extra on their pay stubs.And with that April Fool’s Day pay increase, Canadian parliamentarians will become the second-best paid elected officials in the world after Americans.

According to numbers provided to the National Post by the office of the Speaker of the House of Commons, Canadian members of Parliament will get their customary pay raise on April 1 — resulting in increases of anywhere between $8,500 and $17,000 this year.

Right now, members of Parliament earn a base salary of $194,600 per year — but that’s due to rise to $203,100 on April 1.

The prime minister’s salary will see an increase of $17,000 to $406,200.

Eighty per cent of Canadians oppose the automatic April 1 MP pay increase, according to a Leger poll commissioned by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

In the online survey of 1,541 Canadians of voting age conducted between March 15 and 18, 62 per cent of respondents strongly oppose the pay raise and 18 per cent somewhat oppose.

Those who hold more senior roles or cabinet positions are entitled to additional remuneration — roles such as house Speaker, opposition leader or cabinet minister will be entitled to an additional $96,800 annually, plus car allowances.

That increase was $92,800 before April 1.

Other positions, such as House leaders, whips and committee chairs, are also entitled to a bump.

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