The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe to join NDP leader Carla Beck in calling for a pay freeze for MLAs. That includes stopping a pay increase now scheduled for Apr. 1.

“MLAs should not be raising their own salaries off the backs of taxpayers while they are struggling to afford gas and groceries” said Gage Haubrich, Prairie Director for the CTF. “The government needs to do what’s right and stop the pay hike.”

Last week, Beck publicly called for an MLA pay freeze, saying “I don’t think this should even be a question. This is not a time to be increasing MLA salaries.”

In Saskatchewan, MLA pay raises are tied to inflation for the previous year. Last year inflation was 6.8 per cent. This would see pay raises for MLAs ranging from an extra $7,023 for a backbench MLA to an extra $12,131 for Premier Scott Moe.

Backbench MLAs currently earn $103,285 annually. Premier Moe earns $178,406. The base pay MLAs receive is close to double what the average person earns in the province.

Other provincial governments have recently stopped politician pay raises. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston stopped an automatic pay raise for Nova Scotia MLAs and cut his own pay by $11,000. Late last year, British Columbia MLAs also stopped their automatic pay increase.

“A pay freeze is the right thing to do,” said Haubrich. “MLAs need to show that they understand the increased costs that Saskatchewanians are facing. Politicians should not be putting more taxpayer dollars in their own pockets while families are cutting back.”