While seniors, veterans and working Canadians struggle.... the bastards of Parliament Hill laugh at us

MPs to get 2.2% pay increase, effective April 1

MPs will get a $3,500 hike in their annual salaries at the end of the month, according to a memo from the House of Commons governing board Thursday.

 

PARLIAMENT HILL—MPs will get a $3,500 hike in their annual salaries at the end of the month, according to a memo released by the House of Commons governing board Thursday.

The increase will bring the basic pay for all MPs from $160,200 to $163,700 effective April 1, based on an average increase from major wage settlements in the private sector that the House of Commons uses to set the yearly remuneration for MPs.

The 2.2-per-cent hike was announced to all MPs in an email distributed Thursday from the House of Commons Board of Internal Economy, a secretive panel of ranking MPs that is chaired by House Speaker Andrew Scheer (Regina-Qu’Appelle, Sask.).

The increase includes a corresponding jump in extra salaries for MPs who have additional positions, including the two vice-chairs for each of the 24 standing Commons committees, the 24 chairs, party whips and deputy whips for the three main parties, House leaders, the Speaker, leader of the official opposition, ministers of state, secretaries of state, leader of the other opposition party, the deputy speaker, Parliamentary secretaries, the deputy chair of the Committees of the Whole, the assistant deputy chair of the Committees of the Whole, and all Cabinet ministers including Prime Minister Stephen Harper (Calgary Southwest, Alta.).

Mr. Harper’s salary rises to $327,400, low compared to top executives in the private sector, although he does have 24-hour access to a chauffeured limousine and a big house with servants and no rent.