CTF demands plebiscite on outrageous city council pocket lining
Printable Petition Backgrounder EDMONTON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) responded today to the decision by Edmonton city council to accept massive pay increases recommended by Independent Council Compensation Committee by calling on Edmonton's city council to put the raises to a public vote.
The CTF is launching a petition today urging city council to hold a plebiscite in conjunction with the October 2007 civic election on the 21 per cent raise for councillors and 14 per cent raise for the mayor. The petition can be found on-line at: www.taxpayer.com under petitions, or directly by clicking here.
"If these politicians are so delusional to think that Edmontonians are in favour of these raises they should put their money where their mouth is and hold a vote on it," stated CTF-Alberta director Scott Hennig.
"City council should be ashamed of themselves for ramming through these massive raises while shutting out input from the taxpaying public," continued Hennig.
The Committee's report was released on June 15th and council approved all of the recommendations on June 20th, leaving a mere five days for Edmontonians to digest the recommendations.
"Both council and the Committee ignored the public input they received, and in the Committee's case, input they actively sought," continued Hennig.
The CTF notes that of the 52 calls received by the Citizens Action Centre on the issue of council compensation, only one caller supported giving city council a raise in pay, the other 51 did not. Link to summary of calls
Furthermore, of the 12 formal submissions to the Independent Council Compensation Committee, again only one recommended giving city council a raise in pay, the other 11 did not. Link to City of Edmonton summary of submissions
"It's quite obvious this isn't what Edmontonians expected or even wanted. Those members of city council who voted for in favour of these lavish raises might find themselves feeling the wrath of their voters come October 2007," concluded Hennig.