P.E.I. politicians to get raises in new year

Before they wrapped up this session of the legislature, P.E.I. politicians got a pat on the back:a raise of two per cent, effective April 1, 2016.

Right now, an MLA makes $68,721. In April, they'll make $70,095.

Cabinet ministers currently make $116,743; that will rise to $119,077.

The Premier now has a salary of $143,355. That will rise to $146,222, but Premier Wade MacLauchlan announced when he was elected that he would take the lesser salary of a cabinet minister, and donate the rest to the United Way.

• Wade MacLauchlan commits to reduced salary if elected

The increases are recommended by the 2015 report of the Indemnities and Allowances Commission, which reviews government members' salaries every year.

This year, the commission said it reviewed the Consumer Price Index and P.E.I.'s Gross Domestic Product, and compared Island salaries to those received by politicians in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick -- P.E.I. MLAs continue to receive the lowest base salary in the region, equal to 79 per cent of the average of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

Additional salaries and allowances are provided for the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of the Opposition, Government House Leader, Opposition House Leader, Government Whip, Opposition Whip, and Leader of a Third Party.

They also receive benefits, including health, dental, pension, group insurance and life insurance, as well as staff, kilometre reimbursement, office facilities, and computer hardware.