More than enough already

Christina Blizzard
December 14, 2006
Toronto Sun

Like a good comedy routine, in politics timing is everything.

And the timing simply couldn’t be less amusing for taxpayers as we watched Dalton McGuinty and his Liberal government flip-flop on MPP salaries this week.

On Wednesday, Democratic Renewal Minister Marie Bountrogianni introduced legislation that would hike MPP salaries a whopping 25%. It translates to a raise of $22,000, ratcheting up their base salary to $110,775 from $88,771 annually. (Hey, at least we now know what “democratic renewal” means. It’s the Ministry of Unreasonable Salary Hikes — MUSH for short.)

In May, the premier said a pay hike was not a priority. As recently as last Thursday, I asked Finance Minister Greg Sorbara if he supported Integrity Commissioner Coulter Osborne’s report that said MPP salaries should be pegged to those of MPs. Sorbara said then it was not something that was on the front burner for the government.

McGuinty now says the pay hike is needed to stop Queen’s Park from becoming “the juniors,” to Ottawa’s big leagues. Federal political parties are actively looking for, “hot prospects here at Queen’s Park,” McGuinty said.

“And the argument that they will make traditionally is pretty seductive. It goes like this: How long do you want to continue to play in the juniors?” the premier said.

“Come to Ottawa and get 40% more just like that. Come to Ottawa and we will give you a pension. Forget that measly savings plan you have at Queen’s Park.

“Come to Ottawa and we will give you a pension the likes of which you have never dreamed of,” he said before cabinet.

Whoa! If you don’t like that “measly savings plan,” you can always send it my way. McGuinty is well versed about Ottawa. His brother David is a Liberal backbencher there.

“My brother, God bless his soul ... as a backbencher in Opposition is making more than my cabinet ministers. That difference is not sustainable,” McGuinty said. Hmmm. I’m starting think the “fiscal gap” between Queen’s Park and Ottawa is just a bad case of sibling rivalry.

Look, I don’t begrudge MPPs a modest pay hike and a fair pension. But 25%? Don’t be fooled by the $88,771 cited as their base salary. Just about every Liberal backbencher has an added responsibility of one kind or another for which they are paid an extra allowance. Most are parliamentary assistants, for an extra $27,696, so the optics of this just scream, “how many snouts can you get in one trough?” The government is extending the fall session into next week to pass the legislation. I can’t think of anything else that would keep MPPs in their seats the week before Christmas except their own salaries and perks.

Why the rush? Well, there’ll likely be two elections next year — one federal, the other provincial. Parties at both levels are lining up candidates. And sure, there’s truth in what McGuinty said. Over the past 18 months, we’ve seen three MPPs quit to run federally and another two quit to run for higher paid jobs in municipalities. That’s why the Tories are on side for the raise as well.

Can of worms

But coming hard on the heels of revelations about Hydro One CEO Tom Parkinson’s credit card capers and his $3-million severance package — when he quit — this foolish move just fuelled the debate on public sector salaries.

Was the government hoping that, next to Parkinson’s $1.56 million, their little raise would go unnoticed?

McGuinty has opened up a can of worms and now desperately needs to keep the Tories on side. New Democrats are split on the raise. There is a cynical little clause in the legislation that allows MPPs to opt out. Some NDPers, like leader Howard Hampton and Niagara Centre MPP Peter Kormos say they’ll take the hike but give the cash to charity.