3 days ago
Premier Doug Ford and Ontario MPPs are poised to get a raise. Here is how much their salaries could be going up
Ontario MPPs are about to get a nearly $41,000 raise and will also be eligible to participate in a pension plan for the first time in decades.
The salary for MPPs has been frozen at $116,500 since 2009, with successive governments on either end of the political spectrum opting to keep the measure in place.
But legislation that was tabled at Queen's Park on Thursday afternoon proposes lifting the freeze and setting MPP pay at 75 per cent of the salary awarded to Members of Parliament—currently $209,800.
That would, in turn, see MPP salaries increased by 35 per cent to $157,350 with the change retroactive to the day of the most recent Ontario election.
The premier's salary will increase from $208,974 to $282,129 while cabinet ministers will see their salaries hiked from $165,851 to $223,909.
The Leader of the Official Opposition will now be paid $244,207, up from $180,866.
Officials say the salary increases will add $6 million in payroll costs in 2025-2026, but will only represent 0.06 per cent of the total compensation awarded to Ontario's public servants.
The legislation, once approved, would also give MPPs access to Ontario's public service pension plan, which was previously abolished by the Mike Harris PC government in 1995.
Under the legislation, MPPs would join and contribute to the plan on the 'same terms' as other members who serve elsewhere in Ontario's public service.
But officials say that due to the 'unique nature' of their work, MPPs would also be eligible for a 'supplementary benefit' that would allow them to receive pension benefits after six years of service.
They could begin collecting their full pension benefits at age 65 or receive a reduced pension by the age of 55.
Officials say current MPPs will be given credit for the years of service they have already logged but must still be on the job at the end of this current session of Parliament to be eligible.
The pension will eventually replace a benefit, which saw the government contribute the equivalent of 10 per cent of an MPPs salary to a retirement savings account each year.
The cost of the pension plan to the government is expected to total $6.8 million in 2026-2027.
The new legislation comes after Premier Doug Ford hinted he would lift the pay freeze for MPPs during his first news conference following his re-election this past winter.
At the time, he said it was 'not fair' that MPPs had not received a pay increase since 2008.
'I don't want to sound like a bleeding heart for politicians but come on folks, these guys work their backs off,' Ford previously said.
Officials say the eligibility for a pension after six years of service was set to mirror the rule for federal Members of Parliament.
The new salary structure, once approved, will still result in MPPs earning less than Toronto City Councillors ($170,558).
Ford will now make more than Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, who previously had a higher salary at $225,304.
