Members of the Legislative Assembly in Nova Scotia could see a 12.6 per cent pay bump on the horizon.
That’s identical to raises seen by civil servants since April 2014, the provincial government said in a release.
A new report, done by a three-person panel of professors and lawyers recommended MLAs see a pay increase from $89,234.90 to $100,480.91
However, the panel didn’t recommend a change in salary for positions such as party leaders and ministers with a portfolio.
But Premier Tim Houston has asked to reconvene the Legislature at 2p.m. on July 26 to address the recommendations.
Houston said in a release, he respects the work of the panel, but the government won’t accept the recommendation to increase salaries.
“When inflation is at a 40-year high, gas prices are at historic levels and many hard-working Nova Scotians are struggling to make ends meet, it is not the time to increase the pay of MLAs,” said Premier Houston. “As soon as I learned about the proposed raise, I took immediate action to stop it.”
For those ministers without a portfolio, two of the three-person panel wanted salaries capped at 80 per cent of what their portfolio-holding counterparts make – or at a salary increase of $39,237.21.
The panel didn’t recommend any change in salary for the Speaker or the deputy Speaker.
Two of the three members of the panel recommended reducing the premier’s salary from $112,791.20 to $101,565.19.
Houston wants to reconvene the legislature so his government can table amendments to the House of Assembly Act, preventing the recommended raises.
The new salaries would take effect on September 1, 2022.
Reaction from Nova Scotia’s Liberal Party
Meanwhile the new leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal party is sharing his thoughts on the Premier’s decision to stop the raise.
Yarmouth MLA Zach Churchill says they support the decision but take issue with calling an emergency session of the legislature.
“The fact that he’s calling an emergency session over this issue, when this clearly isn’t the emergency that Nova Scotians are facing, really shows me that it’s all about show and no substance.”
He says the real emergency is in hospitals and Houston should be focusing on that and other issues affecting Nova Scotians.
Churchill says they want the Premier to take it a step farther.
“We’re going to put forward an amendment that the Premier follow through on a recommendation that he hasn’t talked about, that was in the salary report, and that’s reducing his own pay by $11,000.”
He adds Houston is the third highest paid premier in the country behind Ontario and Alberta.
With files from Jakob Postlewaite
