VANCOUVER, B.C.: B.C. MLAs took substantially higher salaries than other provincial and American state representatives in 2025, according to a new report from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. 

“B.C. politicians are among the highest paid in North America, but they’re delivering terrible results for taxpayers,” said Carson Binda, the CTF’s B.C. Director. “Giving bigger paycheques to politicians doesn’t lead to better results for families.” 

The median Canadian provincial politician made nearly three times the salary of the median American state representative’s salary at $113,637 and $45,002 respectively, according to the report.

B.C. MLAs took a base salary of $119,500 in 2025, more than double the median American state representative and above the median Canadian provincial politician. 

Meanwhile, B.C. has one of the highest combined top marginal tax rates of any province or state in Canada and the United States alongside one of the lowest levels of per capita GDP. 

B.C. has the fourth-highest marginal tax rate and the 15th-lowest GDP per capita.

Credit rating agency S&P Global warns that “B.C.’s budgetary performance will be the weakest of peers, both domestic and international.”  

This year’s provincial budget hikes taxes by 16 per cent on working families of four making $100,000. 

“MLAs in Victoria are some of the highest paid while charging some of the highest taxes in North America,” Binda said. “We’re paying premium prices for bargain-bin results from the government benches.” 

B.C. MLAs gave themselves a pay raise, bringing their base salaries up to $122,000 in 2026, despite comparably high existing salaries and below par results for taxpayers. 

“The last thing MLAs should be doing is lining their pockets with more taxpayer cash,” Binda said. “British Columbians are facing big costs from the province and deserve politicians focused on lowering their bills, not padding their own paycheques.”

To view the CTF’s full Subnational Politician Pay Report, click HERE.