Excessive pay raise rejected by some

The plan of the governing Liberals in BC to increase MLA salaries by 29 per cent isn’t being unanimously endorsed by the rank and file of the legislature. While the Liberal’s and some NDP members are taking the position that it’s a legitimate increase based on years of holding the line and eliminating a pension plan, there are some with a contrarian view.

The local NDP MLA for the North Coast riding, Gary Coons has come onside with his leader Carole James by stating that he won’t accept the 29 per cent increase during this term.

There is said to be some discontent within the NDP caucus over their leader’s quick declaration, but Coons apparently is not one of the dissidents on this issue.

The issue has become a bit of tempest among the talk show audiences of the province, the Bill Good show took a long look at the situation this morning from 9 – 10 am, which you can review by checking out the CKNW audio vault here.

For a local look at the issue, The Daily News provided details on the Coons’ position in the Thursday edition of the paper.

COONS SET TO REJECT ‘EXCESSIVE’ PAY RISE PROPOSAL
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Page one

North Coast MLA Gary Coons said he will not accept a 29 per cent pay increase any time this term.

“This particular report is not acceptable. It is excessive and I hope it does not come to the house,” said Coons.

A report by an Independent panel appointed by the Liberal government released earlier this week has suggested a 29 per cent pay boost for MLA’s and the reinstatement of a generous pension plan. The raise would increase an MLA’s annual wage from $76,100 to $98,000. It also calls for increases to cabinet ministers, leaders of the opposition and the premier, who would see his pay go up 53 per cent, from $121,100 to $186,200.

The Liberal caucus was expected to discuss the results of the report yesterday afternoon.

“That’s all it is – a report – one called for by the premier as it was his priority,” said Coons.

The panel process was good one, said Coons, because MLA’s did not get to decide on their own package.

However, Coons noted that when he ran in this last election and won the riding, he signed on for four years at a known wage (with an inflation factor each April 1) and he accepts that.

“The only way I might vote for it (due to pensions for some of my colleagues and disability benefits) is if it comes into effect for the next election, so everyone knows what they are getting into,” said Coons.

He added that any wage increase should be tied to a boost in the provincial minimum wage immediately. The NDP has been calling for an increase in the minimum wage up to $10 an hour.

Maureen Bader, Canadian Taxpayers Federation director, noted that if the recommendations are accepted, it would put B. C. politicians in the top three percent of income earners and reinstate gold-plated pensions fully 75 per cent more generous than what is available to other public employees.

“This is unbelievable,” said Bader.

“The premier campaigned against gold-plated pensions while in Opposition and indeed the Harcourt government sensibly did away with them. Politicians should be well paid and have retirement provisions, as they do now, but two terms in the legislature should not be the equivalent of a lottery win.”

Bader also pointed out that this sets a dangerous precedent for negotiations with public sector unions “what credibility would this government have to control wage and benefit costs given their own generosity.”
An analysis by the CTF in 1996 revealed the previous pension plan had taxpayers contributing $6.50 for every $1 contributed by an MLA.

“The danger is that headlines will focus on a 27 per cent pay increase and sideline the more important issue of potentially reinstating obscenely fat pensions,” she said. “B. C. led the country in cleaning this nonsense up under the Harcourt government and now stands to be the first again to reinstate the same. A potentially shameful and embarrassing mark on B. C.”