• Elected officials in Vancouver and Halifax have already announced they would take pay cuts
• COVID-19 will have a large impact on municipal finances

MONTRÉAL, QC : The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is asking Montreal’s political and administrative leaders to cut their salaries as a show of support to the local population during this health and economic crisis.

“Since the crisis started, hundreds of thousands of Montrealers have lost their source of income and seen their savings shrink,” said CTF Quebec Director Renaud Brossard. “What we’re asking from our elected officials today is to show their support by voluntarily taking pay cuts.”

In the words of Montreal Executive Committee Chairman Benoit Dorais, COVID-19’s impact on city finances is “of a magnitude that’s never been seen before.”

Halifax Mayor Mike Savage has chosen to lower his salary by 20 per cent for the duration of the crisis, prompting other elected officials to follow suit.

In Vancouver, Mayor Kennedy Stewart has announced he would cut management salaries by 10 per cent, including his own. Other councillors have already confirmed they would follow his example.

“COVID-19 will have a big impact on ratepayers’ ability to pay and it is clear City Council will have though choices to make in the coming months,” added Brossard. “Our elected officials must lead by example.”

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