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Report recommends 12.6 per cent raise for Nova Scotia MLAs, but government balks at move

An independent panel has recommended increasing the pay of Nova Scotia MLA’s by 12.6 per cent. But that move was met with disdain by the ruling Conservative party, who announced plans to rescind that raise.

That would take the base salary for provincial politicians from $89,235 to $100,481.

The three-person panel that make the recommendation is composed of university professor Ajay Parasram and lawyers Burtley Francis and Kyle MacIsaac.

“The increase is identical to that received by civil servants between April 1, 2014, and the date on which the recommendations are effective: September 1, 2021,” the province said in a press release.

Reduction in additional pay for Premier

The panel recommended that there be no change to the additional salaries payable to the Speaker, the deputy Speaker, the leader of the Opposition, leaders of recognized parties, and ministers with portfolio. A majority of the panel recommended that the additional salary payable to the Premier be decreased by $11,246.01.

This results in the total pay for the Premier remaining unchanged. A majority of the panel recommended that the maximum additional salary payable to ministers without portfolio be set at $39,237.21 or 80 per cent of that payable to a minister with portfolio.

Recommendations are binding, take effect following general election

Under the House of Assembly Act, the recommendations of the panel are binding and take effect on the first day of the month following the general election.

In addition to its binding recommendations, the panel raised issues for consideration and made suggestions about matters that arose during its inquiry. These matters include:

• the unique family-related challenges faced by MLAs, especially women and gender-diverse MLAs with young children
• the provision for a Mi’kmaw representative in the House of Assembly
• the conduct of future reviews of MLA compensation.

This is the first independent review of MLA compensation to occur since 2014. The last increase to the indemnities and salaries that are the subject of the panel’s report occurred on Jan. 1, 2013

Legislature reacts

The legislature opened for an emergency session today to cancel the binding recommendations made earlier this month by an independent review panel.

The legislation would also cut Premier Tim Houston’s salary by $11,246, to 190,754.

Education Minister Becky Druhan introduced the bill to amend the House of Assembly Act and said politicians’ salaries should not be increasing when Nova Scotian’s are suffering financially due to inflation.

With files from the Canadian Press