A 29 per cent wage increase for the common MLA, 54 per cent if you’re the head enchilada. That’s the future for British Columbia’s elected officials as the compensation review committee handed down their decision, a doucment that provides for a just reward for all their hard toil in Victoria.
A review that the Premier and his party were quick to endorse.
It will prove to be a rather nice feeling on payday for our representatives in Victoria, the hardworking drone of an MLA will pick up another 22,000 dollars for his or her efforts, while the King Bee, the Premier will add some honey to his hive by another 65,000 dollars a year.
The NDP played the not for us card, to say they weren’t planning on accepting the pay raises, though they might like that fancy pension package being put forward. Vaughn Palmer, writing in the Vancouver Sun, suggests that the Liberals in effect are laying a bit of a trap for them this morning; it’s going to be either all or nothing for our elected ones.
Following the lead of Ontario, which had a similar problem a few years ago. The government there found a way to make sure that the money rolls in while setting up the opposition for a nasty bit of a hypocritical outing. Sure you can speak out now about the giant leap in compensation, but, then don‘t ask to sign up on the QT later on please.
They can vote against the raise in the Legislature if they wish, but then they’ll have to publicly declare that they don’t want it or the pension plan and benefits package by signing a declaration that they forgo it all forever.
That will avoid the old Reform party flip flop in Ottawa of a number of years ago, where the MP’s made the stand in Parliament and then went around back later on and signed on for raises out of the glare of the public eye.
As usual the fastest legislation ever to get passed in a governing chamber seems to be that which puts more money in their pockets. The pay, pension and benefit plan seems to be on the fast track in Victoria.
The Premier calling for all MLA’s to “vote with their conscience” on this, thus making sure that payday has a little extra in the envelope every two weeks.
Still as outrageous as the 29 and 54 percent pay bumps seem, the fact is that the provincial politicians will still be making less than their federal counterparts, which see all opposition leaders making more money that the Premier of the province does.
Of course the federal gang does not bother with this unseemly money grabbing anymore, they’ve tied their pay raises to that of Supreme Court judges, a group that have regular pay raises that come along like clockwork. No more debate, No more embarrassment, just a simple matter of calling the financial planner and making sure the cheques are going to the right accounts.
The fact the federal representatives still make more money than the provincial ones even after a one third pay bump, does make you wonder if perhaps our federal representatives are not just a tad overcompensated and provided for on our dimes, but that's a debate for another time.
Now there is no doubt a need for fair compensation for a hard job and politics is an occupation that does have its hardships. But, when the average taxpayer is struggling to make ends meet and at best can hope for a four or five percent increase in pay at their jobs, if they get one at all, it's akin to winning the lottery jackpot, to be able to vote yourself a near 30 per cent winfall.
It’s really not a surprise, as the timing of a project such as this is key. A plan to increase pay and perks needs a buffer zone between the participants and any backlash that may come from it. As there’s no chance for an election for two more years, this is perhaps the best possible window of opportunity to create a little financial opportunity.
It provides a two year period for politicians to set their personal financial houses in order, two years for the public to lose interest and of course in politics, two years is a lifetime!
Our provincial politicians are banking on the fact that something will come up between now and then to deflect our attention away from their handy bit of self fulfilling financial counseling.
Due to ever growing cynicism, our attention span when it comes to politics is rather limited. Two years is probably more than enough time for the collectors of the compensation. Though it would be interesting to see how they would fare at an election if they declared before Election Day that upon election we will vote ourselves a 29 and 54 per cent raise, design our own pension plan and load up on other benefits.
We suspect that the polling results might be a little different at the end of the day.
A review that the Premier and his party were quick to endorse.
It will prove to be a rather nice feeling on payday for our representatives in Victoria, the hardworking drone of an MLA will pick up another 22,000 dollars for his or her efforts, while the King Bee, the Premier will add some honey to his hive by another 65,000 dollars a year.
The NDP played the not for us card, to say they weren’t planning on accepting the pay raises, though they might like that fancy pension package being put forward. Vaughn Palmer, writing in the Vancouver Sun, suggests that the Liberals in effect are laying a bit of a trap for them this morning; it’s going to be either all or nothing for our elected ones.
Following the lead of Ontario, which had a similar problem a few years ago. The government there found a way to make sure that the money rolls in while setting up the opposition for a nasty bit of a hypocritical outing. Sure you can speak out now about the giant leap in compensation, but, then don‘t ask to sign up on the QT later on please.
They can vote against the raise in the Legislature if they wish, but then they’ll have to publicly declare that they don’t want it or the pension plan and benefits package by signing a declaration that they forgo it all forever.
That will avoid the old Reform party flip flop in Ottawa of a number of years ago, where the MP’s made the stand in Parliament and then went around back later on and signed on for raises out of the glare of the public eye.
As usual the fastest legislation ever to get passed in a governing chamber seems to be that which puts more money in their pockets. The pay, pension and benefit plan seems to be on the fast track in Victoria.
The Premier calling for all MLA’s to “vote with their conscience” on this, thus making sure that payday has a little extra in the envelope every two weeks.
Still as outrageous as the 29 and 54 percent pay bumps seem, the fact is that the provincial politicians will still be making less than their federal counterparts, which see all opposition leaders making more money that the Premier of the province does.
Of course the federal gang does not bother with this unseemly money grabbing anymore, they’ve tied their pay raises to that of Supreme Court judges, a group that have regular pay raises that come along like clockwork. No more debate, No more embarrassment, just a simple matter of calling the financial planner and making sure the cheques are going to the right accounts.
The fact the federal representatives still make more money than the provincial ones even after a one third pay bump, does make you wonder if perhaps our federal representatives are not just a tad overcompensated and provided for on our dimes, but that's a debate for another time.
Now there is no doubt a need for fair compensation for a hard job and politics is an occupation that does have its hardships. But, when the average taxpayer is struggling to make ends meet and at best can hope for a four or five percent increase in pay at their jobs, if they get one at all, it's akin to winning the lottery jackpot, to be able to vote yourself a near 30 per cent winfall.
It’s really not a surprise, as the timing of a project such as this is key. A plan to increase pay and perks needs a buffer zone between the participants and any backlash that may come from it. As there’s no chance for an election for two more years, this is perhaps the best possible window of opportunity to create a little financial opportunity.
It provides a two year period for politicians to set their personal financial houses in order, two years for the public to lose interest and of course in politics, two years is a lifetime!
Our provincial politicians are banking on the fact that something will come up between now and then to deflect our attention away from their handy bit of self fulfilling financial counseling.
Due to ever growing cynicism, our attention span when it comes to politics is rather limited. Two years is probably more than enough time for the collectors of the compensation. Though it would be interesting to see how they would fare at an election if they declared before Election Day that upon election we will vote ourselves a 29 and 54 per cent raise, design our own pension plan and load up on other benefits.
We suspect that the polling results might be a little different at the end of the day.
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