VANCOUVER, B.C.: Premier David Eby’s decision to appoint 23 ministers, four ministers of state and 14 parliamentary secretaries means that cabinet will have ballooned by 46 per cent since the NDP’s first cabinet in 2017. 

“With his first act as re-elected premier, Eby decided to pad politician's paycheques with taxpayers’ money instead of making life more affordable for the little guy,” said Carson Binda, B.C. Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “This government is already shaping up to be a tale of have-not taxpayers and have-yacht politicians in government.” 

The number of appointments has ballooned under the Eby government. Former premier John Horgan’s 2017 cabinet included 20 ministers, two ministers of state and six parliamentary secretaries.

Ministers take home an additional $60,000 per year, on top of their $120,000 salary. Ministers of state get their paycheques topped up with an extra $42,000 while parliamentary secretaries are handed an extra $18,000. 

If cabinet had remained at Horgan’s 2017 levels, taxpayers would save $490,000 this year. 

Cabinet appointments will cost taxpayers more than $1.9 million this year, on top of MLA’s six-figure base salary.  

Government whip, house leader, speaker and deputy speaker are also all in-line for big pay raises from taxpayers. 

Following the recent election, Eby acknowledged that his government needs to do more to address affordability.

“The premier says he cares about affordability, but he appointed an unaffordable cabinet that will cost taxpayers millions,” Binda said. “Nearly every single NDP MLA is being handed a taxpayer-funded appointment which comes with a big paycheque attached.”