OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling all of Ontario’s MPPs to reject a 4.2 per cent pay raise that will increase their pay by $6,609-$11,849.

"MPPs shouldn’t be trying to give themselves a big pay raise while taxpayers are struggling to make ends meet with the rising cost of living,” said Noah Jarvis, CTF Ontario Director. “Especially when the government is borrowing tens of billions of dollars each year just to keep the lights on."

MPPs are slated to receive a 4.2 per cent pay increase on April 1, boosting a backbench member’s pay from $157,350 to $163,959.

Members serving in cabinet or special parliamentary roles will get with a bigger raise, in line with their larger salaries.

Premier Doug Ford’s will take the biggest raise at $11,849 this year, while NDP Leader Marit Stiles will take a $10,256 raise and interim Liberal Leader John Fraser will take an extra $8,968.

Ford’s 28 cabinet ministers will each take a $9,404 raise while associate ministers will each take a $7,878 raise.

The speaker of the house, committee chairs and deputy chairs, house leaders, whips are all planning to take extra-large raises.

April 1’s MPP pay raise comes after members of all parties voted to pass a 35 per cent pay increase, increase their pay every year, and re-establish a defined-benefit pension plan MPPs.

"MPPs need to get back down to the real world," said Jarvis. "MPPs already gave themselves a lavish pay hike last year and a platinum pension plan that most Canadians could only dream of."

Federal members of Parliament are also planning to take a pay raise on April 1.

Conservative MP Mike Dawson recently wrote a letter to the House of Commons Clerk rejecting the April pay raise.

One MP is doing the right thing and rejecting his pay hike and Ontario MPPs need to follow his lead,” said Jarvis. “MPPs of all parties need to stop playing taxpayers for the fool and cancel their April 1 pay raises.”