Premier and minister's pay raises under fire by opposition

Premier Brian Brian Pallister and his cabinet ministers are getting salary increases because of a clause in Manitoba's balanced budget legislation and so far the new government has no plans to change the rules.

Pallisterwill get $71,000 this year above his salary as an MLA. Former Premier Greg Selinger'spay packet was 20% smaller - a penalty forrunning deficits while in government.

The legislation allows for a year's grace period for incoming governments to avoid salary penalties and still run a deficit.

The opposition NDP used the salary increases as a club to beat on the government in Question Period at the Legislature today.

"It's rich that the government feels that they are owed a salary increase that they are unwilling to do the same for folks that are at the minimum wage and more specifically on seniorsthat they are not willing to make life affordable; to make sure that seniors can stay in their homes, afford life, be comfortable and enjoytheir retirement," said NDP MLAMatt Weibe.

The NDP have been attacking the new Progressive Conservative's budget for not raisingthe minimum wage this year and for clawing back an education tax rebate from seniors who earn over a certain amount of income.

The New Democrats brought a disgruntled senior to the Legislature to describe the impact of the clawback.

Sixtynine-year-old retiree Charlie Levasseursays he was looking forward to a rebate of $1268 of his education property tax and now the tax break is being clawed back.

"It is sort of Christmas for an old guy and I was counting on filling in the paper work and going and buying my wife a new bike. Anyway it didn't happen because of the new budget and I'm really disappointed," Levasseurtold media outside Question Period.

Changes to the legislation by the PCs would takethe entire tax rebate back from seniors who earnover $63,500.

InterimNDP leader Flor Marcelinowent after the government in the Legislature on the pay increases.

"Why should PC cabinet ministers get paid more to do less for everyday Manitobans?" Marcelinosaid.

Premier Brian Pallisteris in Toronto with Finance Minister Cameron Friesenexplainingthegovernment'sbudget to credit rating agencies. The Tories plan to cut$122 million from the deficit, but say they can't get the books into the black until well into their second term - perhaps as long as eight years.

Deputy Premier Heather Stefanson wasasked directlyif the PCs would either change the balanced budget legislation or simply refuse the pay increases.

"We've inherited a fiscal mess here that we will not be able to change overnight butwe havetaken us in the right direction so far and we'll continue to do so," Stefansonsaid, addingshe didn't get into politics for the salary.

• Mild criticism for new PC government's fiscal debut

Stefanson was asked for a response toCharlieLevasseur's anger in having theeducation tax rebate clawed back.

"We are ensuring that Manitobansthat most need the rebate are going to have access to it," Stefanson said.

Finance minister Cameron Friesen told reporters on Wednesday the government would introduce new balanced budget legislation next year, but couldn't give specifics on what itwould look like.