Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes. (CHAT News Today)

By David Opinko

Southern Alberta MLA asks elected officials to take 20% pay cut

Dec 9, 2020 | 11:21 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A local MLA says he and his colleagues should be reigning in their paycheques.

Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes issued a letter Wednesday, calling on his “colleagues; all Alberta politicians, including Alberta’s 34 Members of Parliament to take an immediate 20 % pay reduction for the next six months.”

He wants to see the same from all Government of Alberta bureaucrats making more than $145,000.

Barnes says “families, communities, and free enterprise are facing some of the most trying circumstances in Alberta’s history.”

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Especially with Tuesday’s announcement of new COVID-19 restrictions, which include forcing some businesses to close, he believes it is imperative that government leaders keep their expenses down.

READ MORE: Province announces business closures due to COVID surge

Franco Terrazzano, Alberta Director of the Canadian Taxpayer’s Federation, is commending Barnes’ initiative.

“MLA Barnes deserves a lot of credit for asking his colleagues to share in the difficult times and accept a 20 per cent pay cut. Albertans are struggling, and this would show taxpayers that our elected officials are willing to share in the tough times and understand the difficulties that we are going through.”

Earlier this fall, members of the provincial government already took pay cuts. MLAs reduced their salaries by 10 per cent, Premier Jason Kenney made 15 per cent less, and political staffers took home seven per cent less.

READ MORE: Kenney says political staff have taken 7% pay cut

In 2019-2020, MLAs in Alberta take in an annual salary of $120,936. Members of Parliament make a “basic sessional indemnity” of $182,600.

For both the provincial and federal governments, key officials such as ministers and party leaders receive additional pay.

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