Government leader Simon Jolin-Barrette will table a bill on Thursday to raise the salaries of elected officials, “very bad news”, according to Québec solidaire, which creates “unease” in the Parti Québécois.
Mr. Jolin-Barrette did not provide details on the provisions that will be included in the legislative text.
“You’ll have the details tomorrow when it’s tabled,” he said before question period.
The Chief Government Whip, Éric Lefebvre, said that this followed the tabling of a report which proposed a $30,000 increase in the basic allowance of elected members of the National Assembly.
“We have an independent committee that has looked into the subject,” he explained.
The raise that will be offered will be $30,000, it was reported on Wednesday The Press. The basic annual allowance is currently $101,561. Elected officials also receive bonuses relating to the parliamentary functions they perform. They also have an expense allowance equivalent to $20,256 after deducting federal taxes.
Asked about a $30,000 increase, Economy and Energy Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon said that such an increase would not encourage more business people to make the leap into politics.
“Business people don’t come into politics to make money, but I think it’s legitimate to be concerned about it,” he said.
Mr Fitzgibbon said a $30,000 hike wouldn’t have made a difference in his decision to take the plunge, given his financial situation.
“I am not a normal case,” he conceded.
CAQ MP for Rouyn-Noranda-Témiscamingue, Daniel Bernard, who returned to politics after being elected Liberal, said compensation was not a factor.
“Me, that’s not what got me into politics,” he said.
The Minister of Infrastructure, Jonatan Julien, noted that the increase will have an effect on the remuneration of elected officials.
“It makes a difference, yes,” he said.
Bad news
Québec solidaire co-spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois said his MPs are against the current proposal.
“This is bad news because I think it sends a message of disconnection to the people we represent here in the National Assembly. Thirty thousand dollars a year, there are people who do that in life for a full year. »
PQ MP Pascal Bérubé said that only 10 MPs are currently content with the basic salary since almost all have bonuses.
“At the CAQ caucus, it’s very important to them, they put a lot of pressure on us to support it,” he said, saying he is “very uncomfortable” .
On the Liberal side, interim leader Marc Tanguay said he agreed with the principle.
“I find that the report that was filed is quite relevant,” he said. This is a relevant question to ask. We are for the principle. We will wait for the tabling of the bill and then we will debate it in the context of the bill. »