Manitoba MLAs take a two-year wage freeze

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This article was published 26/07/2017 (3289 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The pay for MLAs will be frozen for the next two years following a decision Wednesday by an independent commissioner in charge of deciding their salaries, allowances and retirement benefits.

The decision comes after MLAs already announced in March their intention to voluntarily forgo pay increases before the next general election.

Michael Werier, the appointed independent commissioner, made sure that would be the case in a report of his decision submitted to the speaker of the legislative assembly.

Werier said a number of factors were used in coming to a decision on salaries: civil-service pay, MLA salaries in other provinces, cost-of-living increases, the provincial deficit and the state of the economy.

“You put it all together and you come up with a number you deem to be reasonable in the given circumstances,” Werier said.

“It places Manitoba in the middle of the pack compared to other provinces, and I think Manitobans are comfortable that is an appropriate range to be in.”

A cost-of-living increase for MLA pay will be applied April 1, 2020. No changes were made to the pension plan for MLAs, although their contribution rates have been increased by two per cent to nine per cent.

Werier also decided to provide an increase to MLA allowances, in the form of a one-time fund to be used for accessibility renovations.

Salaries for MLAs will remain at $94,513, while cabinet ministers salaries are currently $146,258 and the premier makes $173,714.