As more Canadians struggle everyday to meet their basic needs and a carbon tax increase set for
While on April 1, 2022, and that’s no fools day joke, it is estimated senators and backbench MPs will see a $10,802 increase to $164,702 and $189,702 respectively.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) released a report in late January revealing that MPs received two pay raises during the pandemic, with their next increase coming in less than a month on April 1.
The report also revealed that 528,347 federal and provincial government officials received salary raises, despite the fact that millions of Canadians faced pay cuts, job losses, and failing companies as a result of the pandemic.
CTF Federal Director Franco Terrazzano said it’s disappointing the Canadian government “isn’t willing to share in the struggles of fellow Canadians through these tough times” and just continue to collect their automatic pay raises.
“This is an absolute slap in the face to the millions of Canadians who have struggled through the pandemic,” said Terrazzano.
“It’s wrong for politicians to pocket bigger paycheques while the people they represent suffer through a pandemic, pay cuts, job and business losses.”
According to Terrazzano, a recent Leger poll commissioned by the CTF found that 79 percent of Canadians oppose MPs receiving their third consecutive pay hike on April 1. Between February 11 and 13, 2022, 1,537 Canadians were polled.
“MPs give themselves pay raises each year on April 1, based on the average year-one increase in private-sector union contracts with corporations that have more than 500 employees,” said the CTF in a news release.
“It shouldn’t be rocket science for MPs to do the right thing and stop taking bigger salaries during the pandemic,” said Terrazzano, who emphasised how, following the economic aftermath from the 2008 financial crisis, the Harper government suspended pay increases from 2010 to 2013.
“Even in New Zealand, the Prime Minister and ministers took a 20% pay cut for six months to show solidarity with their citizens during the pandemic,” said Terrazzano.
Canada’s federal carbon tax is set to rise for the third time on April 1 to 11 cents per litre of gasoline.
The CTF has been calling for the federal government to immediately remove fuel taxes at the pump as prices soar and a knock on effect products and services will increase in price.
