We’re not sorry, councillors say
They deserve it and won’t vote to overturn it. That’s the message from some Toronto city councillors who are standing firm on their decision to vote themselves a 12.25 per cent pay hike over four years.
“ It’s the first time my take- home pay will increase in 14 years,” said Councillor Kyle Rae ( Ward 27, Toronto CentreRosedale).
“ I just think it’s fair. We’re getting the same increases as unionized staff — our garbage collectors, janitors,” said Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker (Ward 38, Scarborough Centre). “I don’t think it’s outrageous.”
Toronto city hall was in an uproar yesterday after it was reported that city councillors gave themselves and the mayor a pay hike equivalent to that given to unionized staff. And they did it without public scrutiny because the hike was attached to a confidential item. But many councillors said they were duped, because they didn’t know they were voting for the raise. The controversy is also spilling over into the Nov. 24 provincial by- election race in the riding of ScarboroughRouge River, where Councillor Bas Balkissoon ( Ward 41), who voted for the pay hike, is running for the Liberals. “We believe the voters of ScarboroughRiver should be concerned,” said a senior Ontario Progressive Conservative strategist, adding Tory candidate Cynthia Lai would be “ papering” the riding with pamphlets exposing Balkissoon’s move. A call placed to Balkissoon’s campaign office was not returned.
Councillor Howard Moscoe proposed the salary increase by adding the words “ and elected officials” to a motion extending pay hikes to non- union staff.
Because it was an amendment to an in- camera item, the actual motion with the words “ and elected officials” was only circulated to councillors. Mayor David Miller, who has flipflopped on the matter for the past 24 hours, announced late yesterday that he would move a motion to reopen debate on the matter at the Nov. 24 council meeting. It requires two- thirds support.
While Miller believes the politicians deserve the raise, it should have been done in an open manner, said spokesperson Patchen Barss.
Councillor Case Ootes said he knew he was voting for a salary increase.
“ I find it hard to believe that anyone that voted on it didn’t know what they were voting for,” said Ootes ( Ward 29, Toronto- Danforth). “ I voted for it, and I don’t apologize for it.” He agrees with criticism that the item should have been debated in public. Moscoe remained unrepentant.
“ Everybody’s having selective amnesia,” said Moscoe ( Ward 15, EglintonLawrence). “ I think what I did was fair and reasonable. I was upfront. It was on the table. Council chose to support it. They chose not to debate it, not me. There was not one second of in- camera discussion.” Moscoe added clearly nobody wanted to discuss it, because it sailed through without any formal debate. Under a 2000 policy, councillors voted to give themselves only hikes based on the consumer price index. So in January, councillors already received a 1.7 per cent hike, so they would get a retroactive 1.05 per cent increase to match the 2.75 hike given to unionized workers.
In addition, council voted to hike their salaries by 3 per cent on Jan. 1, 2006, 3.25 per cent on Jan. 1, 2007 and 3.25 per cent on April 1, 2008. Moscoe said if anyone is upset with the raise, they don’t have to accept it.
Councillor Michael Walker ( Ward 22, St. Paul’s), who wants the hike rescinded, said he would consider returning the increase if it stays.
According to a videotape of the Sept. 28 council meeting, at about 7 p. m. the salary hike item came up briefly and then was temporarily put off. Council returned to the item at 7: 22, just a few minutes before they broke for the evening, and it was approved by a 25- 9 vote, without any debate.
“ I hadn’t really read the report,” confessed Councillor Doug Holyday ( Ward 3, Etobicoke Centre), who said he would have voted against giving himself a raise. “ I’m not making any excuses here,” he said. “ Staff should have told us ( what the vote was on).”
Like others, Councillor Jane Pitfield wants the matter reopened and debated. “ If council wants to give themselves a raise, they should have the courage of convictions to stand up in public and say so,” said Pitfield ( Ward 26, Don Valley West). Rae argued his constituents would support giving him a raise, adding not all councillors depend on their city salary. “ I guess it’s a hobby for some members of council,” said Rae, noting Councillors David Soknacki is “ a millionaire” and Councillor Cliff Jenkins receives a pension from his years at IBM. Both Soknacki (Ward 43, Scarborough East) and Jenkins ( Ward 25, Don Valley West) were vocal opponents to the pay hikes at an employee and labour relations committee meeting Wednesday, where the salary hike was first debated.