MHAS could see nearly $25,000 pay raise
N.L. legislators are already highest paid in Atlantic Canada
Newfoundland and Labrador MHAS might soon get a nearly $25,000 pay raise.
It was recommended in a 233-page report by Heather Jacobs titled “How We Value Democracy.”
“The failure to provide a salary increase since 2009 is neither just nor reasonable, and the annual salary for MHAS must be increased,” the report states.
It said the raise should come into force on April 1.
The current base salary for an MHA is $95,357. The report recommends it should be increased to $120,000.
The House of Assembly voted in November to appoint Jacobs to do the review of members’ salaries, which is required during each general assembly.
Jacobs was deputy minister of the Department of Justice and Public Safety from 20152022, and before that was an assistant deputy minister in the department for nine years.
COMPARISONS TO OTHER PROVINCES
Newfoundland and Labrador legislators are currently the highest paid in Atlantic Canada.
According to the report, these are the salaries for legislators in other Atlantic Canadian provinces:
• New Brunswick: $93,126 (beginning Nov. 1, 2024);
• Nova Scotia: $89,235 (since Jan. 1, 2013);
• Prince Edward Island: $82,116 (beginning April 1, 2024).
A salary of $120,000 would put this province’s legislators among the highest paid in the country.
According to the report, these are the current top salaries for legislators:
• Quebec: $131,766 plus $20,256 taxable allowance;
• Nunavut: $112,942 plus $30,607 taxable allowance;
• Northwest Territories: $117,986 plus $8,502 nontaxable allowance;
• Alberta: $120,936;
• British Columbia: $119,533;
• Ontario: $116,550.
OTHER INCREASES
The report also said a salary increase is warranted for the additional-salary positions in the legislature, such as the Speaker (a $6,335 raise), deputy Speaker (a $12,834 raise — more than doubling the pay for this position), and the leader of the Official Opposition (a $6,335 raise).
It said positions such as party whip, deputy chair of committees, and others should be compensated, with a party whip getting a new $5,000 cheque, for example.
The report also recommended that members of committees of the management commission should be compensated for their additional duties, and that the government house leader and deputy government house leader should be considered additional-salary positions.
The report said legislation should stipulate that an MHA who simultaneously holds an additional-salary position, a ministerial position or a committee membership is entitled to only the additional salary or per diem of the highest compensated position.
The report said the salaries should be adjusted annually based on the percentage change to the consumer price index and the executive pay plan.
It recommended that MHAS should continue to be paid severance, but that it should be renamed “transitional allowance.”
It also recommended some changes to mileage, meal, office and constituency allowances.
MHAS PAID LESS THAN DEPUTIES
The report said compensation should be at a level to ensure that capable people continue to offer themselves for public service; that pay should not be so small that it discourages qualified candidates from running, or so generous as to be a major inducement for seeking office.
It pointed out that the average annual salaries in 2023 in this province for assistant deputy ministers and deputy ministers were $142,899 and $176,305, respectively.
The report noted the MHA salary “is significantly lower than both.”
PUBLIC AGREES WITH RAISE, REPORT SAYS
The report took into account public opinion.
It said it heard no members of the public express that MHAS were overpaid, and all asserted that a raise is necessary, suggesting an MHA annual salary from $120,000 to $200,000.
The report said some public opinion suggested increasing the MHA annual salary would improve the quality of recruitment and remove barriers to diverse populations considering running for public office.
The report did not provide any information about how many people in the public contributed their opinions. It only said that it requested input through the Members’ Compensation Review Committee website, news releases, a toll-free number, an email account and social media.
NEXT STEPS
Legislation requires that the House of Assembly Management Commission will now consider these recommendations. This will be done at public meetings.
A news release from the Speaker’s office stated an update about these meetings will be provided. It did not say when.