Ontario MPPs to get raises after 16-year freeze and access to new pension plan
Ontario members of provincial parliament are getting big raises and access to a pension plan, under legislation introduced by Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy and passed with the support of all parties at breakneck speed.
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Shortly after members sent the pay raise bill barrelling through the legislative process — it spent about 13 minutes from tabling to passage — representatives from all parties stood shoulder-to-shoulder outside the chamber in rare agreement.
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'When we're looking for other candidates, qualified people, to actually direct the future of this province, for most of them, they have to take a huge pay cut to come here and give up, in many cases, pensions,' said NDP Opposition house leader John Vanthof.
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'We're not going to build the future of this province by excluding the people who have the qualifications and have the knowledge to move us forward. So we're fully in support and I'd like to thank Premier (Doug) Ford and his government for, quite frankly, having the guts to do this.'
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The base pay for Ontario's elected officials has been frozen since 2009 at $116,550, and the changes would boost the salary to $157,350, which is 75 per cent of what federal MPs make. That will still be less than what city councillors in Toronto earn.
Premier Doug Ford's salary would rise from about $209,000 to about $282,000 and cabinet ministers would see their pay increase from about $166,000 to about $224,000.
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The bill would also resurrect a pension plan for the members of provincial parliament, 30 years after the previous one was abolished by former premier Mike Harris' government.
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The new plan would see members enrolled in the existing Public Service Pension Plan, and they would then be entitled to supplemental benefits for MPPs who serve at least six years.
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Representatives of the Liberals, Greens and the lone Independent member also said it was time for the pay freeze to end.
'I want to thank the premier,' said Bobbi Ann Brady, who represents Haldimand-Norfolk as an Independent.
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'I want to thank the minister and the government house leader for righting what I feel is almost a 16-year wrong,' she said. 'I continually talk about the spirit of co-operation amongst us all and I think today there is a nice spirit of co-operation here.'
Bethlenfalvy said it is the right thing to do.
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'I know that many people across the province work tirelessly each day to put food on the table and pay the rent,' he said.
'It's fair and reasonable. It'll be at 75 per cent of the federal compensation. It's still less than a Toronto city councillor will be paid or a Mississauga city councillor and we're going to work tirelessly each and every day, sometimes in different ways, to help all Ontarians.'
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