• Changes to MLA committee pay result in swift reaction from cabinet
• CTF calling for halt to pay hikes and appointment of Citizen's Commission to review pay

EDMONTON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is calling for the Stelmach government to halt changes to MLA committee and cabinet pay, which have resulted in 30% increases to cabinet ministers pay and a 34% in the premier's pay.

A decision last week by the Standing Committee on Members' Services to grant additional committee pay to the speaker, Liberal leader and the NDP leader, of up to $42,000 per year, had resulted in both the speaker and Liberal leader earning more than the premier.

In what was a clear reaction to this change, cabinet passed an Order in Council yesterday granting cabinet ministers an additional $42,000 in "committee" pay and the premier an additional $54,000 in "committee" pay.

The speaker, leaders of the opposition, cabinet ministers and the premier already receive generous stipends for their extra work. Traditionally, they have all been expected to serve on various committees as part of this extra stipend.

"Clearly the Members' Services committee made a grave error in granting additional committee pay to the speaker and the leaders of the opposition," stated CTF-Alberta director Scott Hennig. "Neither Speaker Ken Kowalski nor Liberal Leader Kevin Taft should be paid more than the premier."

"However, cabinet should not have attempted to 'one-up' Kowalski and Taft by giving themselves 30% raises," continued Hennig. "Two wrongs don't make a right."

"Premier Stelmach should demand a stop to the MLA pay changes and introduce a transparent, independent review of MLA pay by a citizen's commission," demanded Hennig.

"If the Premier sits idly by while the Members' Services committee and his cabinet put through such unwarranted and unnecessary changes to MLA pay, it will fly in the face of the transparency this government claims to hold so dear," concluded Hennig.