OTTAWA, ON: A majority of Ontario taxpayers oppose MPP pay raises, according to a new Leger poll commissioned by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

"The poll shows Ontario taxpayers don’t want to sign off on another pay raise for politicians," said Noah Jarvis, CTF Director. "Ontarians are fed up with politicians ignoring their concerns and pocketing thousands more taxpayer cash."

MPPs are set to receive estimated 4.2 per cent pay increase on April 1.

This comes after MPPs voted to give themselves a 35 per cent pay raise last year and reinstating annual pay raises whenever federal MPs get a raise.

The Leger poll asked Ontarians if they support MPPs giving themselves a raise this year.

The poll found:

• 75 per cent of Ontarians oppose an MPP pay raise this year

• 12 per cent of Ontarians support an MPP pay raise this year

• 14 per cent of Ontarians are unsure

Among decided respondents, 86 per cent of Ontarians opposed MPPs receiving another pay raise, compared to just 14 per cent in support of a raise.

Only two per cent of decided respondents strongly support the raise while 66 per cent strongly oppose it.

Backbench MPPs are planning on giving themselves an extra $6,609, bringing the total salary for a backbencher to $163,959.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s salary is projected to rise by $11,849 to $293,978, his cabinet ministers will get a $9,404 raise to $233,313, his associate ministers’ salaries will rise $7,878 $187,561 to $195,439, and parliamentary secretary pay will get a $7,554 raise to $187,405.

Opposition leaders, caucus leaders, the speaker of the house and her deputies will also take a boosted raise.

"Elected leaders are more focused on hiking their pay than they are on delivering for taxpayers," Jarvis said. "MPPs need to understand that their pay hike is unpopular and cancel the raise before it takes effect."

The full poll results are available HERE.