Alberta MLAs accept 5% wage rollback

Alberta MLAs are taking a five-per-cent cut to their salaries effective Feb. 1.

The motion from government whip George VanderBurg was approved by the members services committee Wednesday afternoon.

• Premier Jim Prentice and cabinet take 5% wage cut

"Every political party will have their own different view on what we're attempting to do,"VanderBurg said. "I've made it very, very clear to all of you that we have a $6-billion to $7-billion shortfall in the budget, and this is the MLAs' way of contributing to that shortfall."

Last week, Premier Jim Prentice announced that he and members of cabinet were taking a five-per-cent pay cut.

But some MLAs think the rollback for cabinet ministers doesn't go far enough.Wildrose MLA Rick Strankmanproposed they take a 30-per-cent cut, but the committee voted him down.

"I view this as a poor example of any kind of leadership, really," he said.

Liberal MLA Raj Sherman said the move was the Tories' way of laying the groundwork for public sector wage rollbacks. He said it was wrong for MLAsto make decisions about their own pay.

"I will be be taking a convenient comfort break when the vote happens," he said.

Although the NDPmembers on the committee voted in favour of the rollback, MLA Brian Mason said the measure sends the wrong message.

"They always ask the working families, the middle class families of this province, to pay the price of deficit, which was created by tax cuts for the wealthiest Albertans," he said.

Prentice said the five-per-cent salary cut would save the government $600,000.

The pay of MLAswill now be just over $127,000 a year. Prentice will earn $207,000 and cabinet ministers will make nearly $191,000.

Although the savings aretiny compared to Albertas $7-billion revenue shortfall, many believe Prentice is using the measure to push public sector unions towards salary rollbacks.

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