Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative government has unanimously passed legislation to increase the pay of provincial members of parliament by 35 per cent.
On Thursday, Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy tabled a bill to amend provincial legislation regulating MPPs’ salaries and pensions.
MPPs elected to the Legislative Assembly receive a salary equal to 75 per cent of federal MPs in the House of Commons.
This pay rate was capped at 2009 levels by the former Liberal government of former premier Dalton McGuinty, equivalent to $116,550 per year.
However, on Thursday, Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy tabled the MPP Pension and Compensation Act to remove the provision capping MPP pay at 2009 levels.
In a rare showing of unanimity, the PCs, Liberals, NDP, Green Party, and Independent MPPs joined together to pass the legislation. The bill was rammed through the legislature in under an hour and received royal assent on the same day.
MPPs will now be paid three-fourths of the $209,800 salary that MPs make, equating to $157,350.
The premier’s salary will rise from $208,974 to $282,129, the leader of the opposition’s salary will rise from $180,886 to $244,207, and cabinet ministers’ salaries will rise from $165,851 to $223,909.
Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie and Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner will receive $213,524, up from the $158,158 they were making previously.
The Ontario Speaker is due to receive $206,443 while the deputy Speaker and chair of the committee of the whole House will receive $180,637.
The MPP Pension and Compensation Act will also create a new pension fund for MPPs who have sat in the legislature for at least six years, similar to that of federal MPs. MPPs will now be added to the public sector pension fund and are eligible to begin collecting their pension at 55 years old.
Members argue that increasing the compensation for MPPs is necessary in order to attract talented Ontarians into running for office.
“MPPs are people too; they have to pay groceries, they have to pay rent, (spend) time away from their families,” said Bethlenfalvy.
NDP MPP John Vanthof articulated a similar sentiment, saying that the bill will help attract new talent into politics.
“When we’re looking for other candidates, qualified people to actually direct the future of this province, for most of them, they have to take a huge pay cut to come here,” said Vanthof.
However, Canadian Taxpayers Federation spokesperson Nicholas Gagnon argues that now is not the right time to boost MPP pay, considering the cost-of-living crunch for most Ontarians.
“While families are tightening their belts and the province sinks deeper into debt, Ontario politicians are stuffing their own pockets,” said Gagnon. “Ontario’s debt is skyrocketing, and instead of focusing on fiscal responsibility, politicians are rewarding themselves. This sends the wrong message to taxpayers who are already under pressure from inflation, taxes, and high living costs.”