Taxpayers Federation makes recommendations to Manitoba Commission for MLA Pay, Allowances & Retirement Benefits

Full submission, including national compensation comparisons (136 KB)

WINNIPEG: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today presented four recommendations to Mr. Earl E. Backman, Commissioner for MLA Pay, Allowances and Retirement Benefits.

Late last year, Earl Backman was appointed as Manitoba's Commissioner to study MLA compensation. Appointed by George Hikes, Speaker of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly, Commissioner Backman is mandated to make recommendations to the legislative assembly about the appropriate salary, allowances and retirement benefits for all MLAs. "Determining pay for elected officials has become something of a thorny issue for politicians and unlike Parliamentarians elsewhere in Canada, Manitoba's Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) have a reasonably simple and transparent compensation regime," stated Provincial Director Adrienne Batra. "Manitoba's MLAs do not receive a tax-free allowance and do not have a defined benefit pension plan. In these respects, Manitoba has led the country in MLA compensation, therefore it is recommended that no changes be made to the current base salary of $65,535 at this time."

The CTF's four recommendations are as follows:

• The Commissioner should base all of its analysis and recommendations concerning MLA remuneration so as to retain the following principles: simplicity, transparency, accountability and fairness (STAF-F)
• Manitoba's Legislature should continue to lead the country on MLA compensation by publishing and posting the following: Total Advertising/Publicity; Total Office Maintenance (equipment, supplies etc); Total Travel; Total Entertainment; and Total Spending.
• Any increase in MLA indemnities must not exceed Manitoba's Consumer Price Index and should not proceed until Manitoba's income tax system is fully indexed for inflation.
• Any increase in MLA indemnities with respect to salaries and allowances should not come into affect until after the next provincial election.

While a competitive wage should be paid to MLAs, it should be noted that public service is a free choice. "We sincerely believe and hope that an over-riding sense of civic virtue and duty is the first and primary motive for Manitobans who seek the opportunity to serve as MLA," added Batra. "There is no doubt that Manitobans desire and deserve competent and talented women and men for elected public service, however there is not any evidence to support the argument that better pay and compensation will attract more qualified individuals to public life," concluded Batra.