CTF Submission: Fair & Transparent Council Compensation


EDMONTON: In a submission to the City of Edmonton's Independent Council Compensation Committee, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is calling on the City of Edmonton to make city council compensation more transparent and simpler for Edmontonians to understand.

"One-third of council's salaries and benefits being tax-free distorts how much the mayor and city councillors are actually paid," said CTF-Alberta director Scott Hennig. "It's time city council compensation be cleaned up."

Mayor and council receive a tax-free expense allowance, a one-third tax-free vehicle allowance, and a one-third tax-free RRSP contribution every year.

"Every other Edmontonian has to pay tax on 100 per cent of their income, why should city council be any different," questioned Hennig. "Elected officials should be subject to the same tax laws as the people they govern."

City councillors are generally advertised to be earning $63,638 per year, and the mayor is advertised to be earning $121,821 per year. The CTF's "Fair & Transparent Council Compensation" submission breaks down these numbers, and shows that in fact when the tax-free status and the various allowances are calculated, Edmonton city councillors actually earn the equivalent of $85,110 and the mayor earns the equivalent of $167,870 per year.

Furthermore, when compared to other major Canadian cities, the mayor Edmonton's take-home income is more than the mayor's of Winnipeg, Ottawa, Vancouver and even Toronto. Only the Mayor of Calgary is earning more. The CTF's report suggests City of Edmonton officials are well paid and an increase beyond what Edmontonians are receiving is not appropriate or necessary.

Copies of "Fair & Transparent Council Compensation" can be found on-line by clicking here or by contacting the Alberta office at 1-800-661-0187.