MPPs welcome ‘fair and reasonable’ pay raise

SIOUX LOOKOUT – A recent pay raise for members of Provincial Parliament was unexpected, Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa said Friday.

“That was a surprise, for sure,” Mamakwa told Newswatch. “I thought they would never do it.

“Compensation for MPPs in Ontario has been frozen since 2009. MPP salaries have been lagging compared to other elected representatives, including city councilors in Ontario.

“So I think it was good that all parties in the legislature agreed to ending the freeze and raising the base salary for MPPs.

“I think it helps encourage people regardless of socio-economic status to seek office, and that's a good thing.”

All parties in the legislature agreed on Thursday to end the MPP salary freeze and raise the base annual salary to $157,450 — an increase of $40,800.

They also agreed to implement a pension plan for provincial legislators.

Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy termed the salary hike “fair and reasonable.”

According to the government, the new salary is three-quarters of a federal member of Parliament’s base salary. The salary change is estimated cost to the provincial budget is $6 million.

Thunder Bay–Superior North MPP Lise Vaugeois, a colleague of Mamakwa in the NDP caucus, expressed similar support for the pay raise in an email to Newswatch.

“The changes agreed to by all parties will keep up with inflation,” Vaugeois stated.

“And while I personally won’t be able to access the Public Service Pension Plan, expanding coverage to those elected to the legislature will ensure people from all walks of life can run to represent their communities.”

Thunder Bay–Atikokan MPP Kevin Holland, a member of the governing Progressive Conservatives, said provincial legislators’ salaries “lag behind those of comparable elected representatives.”

“It was just felt that at this time it was important to kind of bring the pay in line with what other elected representatives (receive) to ensure that we’re attracting people to run as MPPs.”

Holland added that “it was good to see that there was the all-party support on the legislation. It was just a recognition of the importance of ensuring that we have a pay in place reflective of the work that’s being done.”

Conservative cabinet minister Greg Rickford, MPP for Kenora–Rainy River, did not reply to a request for comment.