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St. Albert NDP MLA Renaud criticizes pay raise vote

UCP-dominated committee boosts MLA salaries, taxpayer funding for government caucus
leg CC 9056.eps
The Alberta Legislature.

A St. Albert NDP MLA blasted a committee decision to increase MLA salaries and taxpayer funding for the government's caucus, saying it shows the UCP's priority is not to improve affordability for everyday Albertans. 

"I wasn't surprised by their decision," Marie Renaud said. "They put themselves first all the time, and Albertans should be alarmed and upset by this. I know we are." 

On Jan. 9, the special standing committee on members' services voted to increase the base salary of MLAs, as well as increase the taxpayer funding to the UCP government's caucus by at least $1 million. The increase in pay will amount to about 2.2 per cent, and also will be retroactive to the start of the year. The extra money will be used for research projects and public communications. The committee is made up of six UCP MLAs and four MLAs from the NDP.

Currently, the base salary for Alberta MLAs is $120,936, and extra pay is given for more responsibilities like cabinet positions. Renaud said the increase shows, the UCP are more concerned with keeping themselves paid than they are about the affordability struggles of everyday Albertans. There are currently no plans for the Alberta government to increase the minimum wage in 2025, which has been $15 an hour since its last increase in 2018.

"They're not about putting Albertans first. It's about putting industry first, it's about putting friends first. It's about punching down to cause division and to placate their base," she said. 

"What I've always wanted to see is a government that's focused on Albertans and that's why I think it's just foul that this is a government that's going to give themselves more money when they're capping benefits for the poorest people in the province," she said, referring to the recently introduced Bill 32. If passed, the bill would implement a new legislative framework for indexation of the tax system and social programs, including income support programs like Assured Income for the Severly Handicapped (AISH). Renaud is NDP shadow minister for community and social services.

The framework would establish a new escalator with a default rate of the lesser of either two per cent or the change in Alberta's Consumer Price Index. Renaud was critical of this new framework, saying it caps benefits for people with disabilities and the poorest Albertans while the government votes to give themselves a pay increase.

"It just reeks to me. I don't know how else to describe it," she said.

Morinville-St. Albert MLA and Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister Dave Nally's office responded to the Gazette's inquires with an emailed statement, saying "This was a decision made by the special standing committee on members’ services. It reflects a modest 2.2 per cent increase, the first in 12 years, bringing MLA salaries in line with our public service." 

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