OTTAWA -- MPs have quietly pocketed a $3,100 pay hike, which took their annual base salary to
$150,800. The automatic April 1 increase, based on private-sector settlements, also applies to separate salaries for extra duties - jobs ranging from committee vice-chairman up to prime minister. MPs also get a $22,000 yearly expense allowance, primarily for living costs in Ottawa, and 64 free return airline tickets each year to share with their partners and dependents. NDP MP Peter Stoffer said it is ironic MPs were cashing their bigger paycheques while Parliament was set to legislate striking CN employees back to work:_“It’s a bit hypocritical.”The increase brings Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s annual pay to $301,600. His salary is low compared to the remuneration for bank presidents and senior executive officers in the private sector, but as Harper has joked, he lives in the best public housing in the country at rent-free 24 Sussex Drive. U.S. President George Bush is paid $400,000 annually, and also has a bigger government house than Harper.
Liberal MP Rodger Cuzner said he believes most MPs earn their wages and are busy with work in Ottawa as well as their ridings. The Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation said it supports the level of salaries MPs earn, but believes Parliament should be more transparent about pay rates and perks. “Nobody would argue we should be paying them peanuts,” said national research director, Adam Taylor. “We’re more critical about the lack of openness displaying this stuff. Speaker Peter Milliken Tuesday appeared at the Commons procedure and House affairs committee to explain details of a $10-million hike in the House budget to $410.5 million for the 2007-08 fiscal year. Ottawa Citizen
Examples of extra salaries on top of base pay for MPs:
Prime Minister: $150,800
Minister: $72,200
Minister of state: $72,200
Commons speaker: $72,200
Leader of the Opposition: $72,200
Leader, other parties: $51,400
Whip: $27,200
Committee chair: $10,700
Committee vice-chair: $5,500
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