NBT launches petition to stop MLA’s fat raise

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New Brunswick Taxpayer has launched a petition calling on NB Liberal Premier Shawn Graham to cancel the 4 per cent pay raise for MLA’s and to allow voters around the province to decide whether their MLA deserves a pay raise in the next general election. As well, budgets for members' allowances, committees and operations will get a 9 per cent boost in 2008-09.

Since, we the taxpayers pay their salaries, we have a right to decide what our representatives earn. In light of Mr. Graham’s poor fiscal record thus far, he shouldn’t be so confident that hardworking taxpayers will rubber stamp a 13 per cent salary and allowance increase.

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CTF spokeman Adam Taylor: "the government's refusal to return the money to New Brunswickers while also setting aside another $765,000 for MLA raises shows a lack or respect for the average New Brunswicker, especially when finance ministers across the country are tightening their belts. [...] They seem to be thumbing the nose at New Brunswick taxpayers, especially with rising assessments, and hikes in hydro. [...] The fact that last year they raised income taxes, it seems a little bit disingenuous to say we need to raise income taxes to prevent our budget from going into deficit, and then turn around and post a surplus and raise MLA salaries before they roll back that tax increase. [...] the members of New Brunswick's legislature are sending the wrong message if they are considering raising their salaries according to a report that based much of its conclusions on MLA salaries elsewhere in the country. [...]To say we are going to pay ourselves comparable to what the booming western provinces are paying their politicians, yet you aren't going to see any more increases and we are going to take more from your paycheque so we can pay ourselves more."

More good stuff from Taylor: "Not only are regular New Brunswickers not likely seeing wage increases, they are also getting less money because of tax increases. [...] Premier Graham should be giving his head a shake. [...] Everybody loves a raise. You will never find someone in the entire world who wouldn't take a pay raise. But the reality is when the government is raising taxes the last thing it should be doing is raising wages."

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"If the MLAs and ministers vote in favour of the almost $800,000 pay hike package recommended by a government commissioned report, they will receive an almost 4 per cent raise as the salary of a sitting members will increase from $81,758 to $85,000.

According to the recommendations that were based on comparisons with other provinces and the input of past and current MLAs, ministers would see their salaries increase to from $122,248 to $137,613, which would raise their salaries to more than $20,000 above Saskatchewan ministers, 30,000 more than Manitoba ministers, and within the $10,000 of Alberta ministers."

Related: N.B. plans to top up pay for legislature members, Politicians In New Brunswick Could Soon Be Getting A Pay Raise, MLAs stand to profit from 'unseemly' vote - CEO, It's pay raise time, Province pegs $50M for pay hikes, Voting on a package to boost salaries a conflict.