Starting Friday, MPs will benefit from a 10% discount on their meals in the National Assembly cafeteria. The administration of the institution made this announcement on Thursday to all parliamentary wings, was able to confirm The duty.
This decision comes as Prime Minister François Legault recently made an about-face regarding a $125 per day bonus paid to MPs, whose salaries were increased by 30% in June, following a controversial decision.
From Friday, parliamentarians, as well as political and administrative staff of the National Assembly will benefit from a 10% discount on products sold at the Café du Parlement, with the exception of alcoholic beverages, indicates an internal email obtained by The duty.
“The discount applies to products consumed by the person holding an eligible accreditation. The discount therefore does not apply to products that will be consumed by guests of this person,” wrote the Director General of Information and Visitor Experience of the National Assembly, Isabelle Giguère.
A spokesperson for the National Assembly, Béatrice Zacharie, confirmed this information on Thursday, specifying that journalists from the Press Gallery will also be eligible for this discount.
“It is the reintroduction of a measure which already existed and which was suspended during the pandemic,” she said.
An unsolicited offer
On the side of the parliamentary wings, it seems that the elected officials did not request this discount announced Thursday by Mme Giguère.
The parliamentary wing of Québec solidaire did not oppose the prospect of this offer being withdrawn from elected officials. “The important thing is that National Assembly workers have access to this discount,” replied communications director Stéphanie Guèvremont. As for MPs, we did not ask for this discount and it could be withdrawn. »
The liberal parliamentary wing has not taken a position on the new rebate, which will be offered on Friday. “It is up to the administration of the National Assembly to respond. We did not ask for it,” said a spokesperson, Maxime Doyon-Laliberté.
The CAQ and PQ parliamentary wings did not want to comment on this decision.
The Café du Parlement is located on the ground floor of the National Assembly, behind the main hall. Hot meals, various sandwiches, snacks and hot and cold drinks are served to elected officials, staff and visitors to the institution. A daily special is offered at $11.95 before taxes.
Last June, members of the National Assembly voted in favor of an increase in their basic allowance, which went from $101,561 to $131,766 after a 30% increase.
Mr. Legault announced at the beginning of the month the abolition of an attendance bonus of $125 per day paid to MPs participating in parliamentary committee work when the House is not sitting, generally during summer and winter adjournments .
This decision was announced in the context of a “hot autumn” with public service union members in negotiations for the renewal of their collective agreements.