Since the session began two weeks ago, not too many major issues have emerged from the hallowed halls of the Legislature, at least nothing that have caused any riots in the streets. Having said that, last week Justice Minister Gord Mackintosh introduced Bill #3, the Legislative Assembly Amendment Act, a.k.a. MLAs want more money act.

Under the current system, Members' salaries are indexed to Stats Can's average weekly wages for Manitoba - which makes sense. Under the proposed amendments, the Legislative Assembly Management Commission will appoint a commissioner responsible for the following:

• a) to review and make recommendations to the Assembly about the appropriate salary, allowances and retirement benefits for members; and
  
• (b) when the Assembly accepts the recommendations, to make regulations to implement them.
  
• An "independent" commissioner is fine, however, this Act needs amendments to ensure that taxpayers are not left on the hook for exorbitant salary increases of our elected officials.

CTF Amendment #1:
Section 52.7(4) should be changed to read - The commission must (instead of may as it currently is) consult with interested individuals and groups when conducting a review. Who better to have a say in how politicians are paid than those that pay them Now this is not to suggest that the commissioner's work should be micro-managed, but it is critical that public input be sought out and received.

We don't have to look too much further than Alberta where MLAs salaries and compensation went completely awry. In the summer of 2001, without any public debate, MLAs quietly gave themselves a 9.7% raise (after inflation) and more than doubled their severance pay.

CTF Amendment #2
A new subsection should be added to 52.11, to read: "The Legislative Assembly may only vote on the commissioner's recommendations two times, and if after two votes the recommendations are still rejected, MLAs compensation shall remain unchanged." As it currently stands, the commissioner will submit his/her report to the Legislature, giving the power to accept or reject, but not make changes.

The appointment of an independent commissioner to assess MLA compensation is a laudable goal, but why now Was there any mention of this in the Throne Speech Of course not. The current system seems to be working well, so it is rather disconcerting that there is a sudden need for change. Furthermore, what is the government's obsession with bureaucracy

Note to taxpayers: MLAs currently make $64,000, Cabinet Ministers collect $92,000 (and get a vehicle) and the Premier earns almost $110,000 - do you think that they deserve a raise Just ask yourself this - what have they done for you lately