All governments want to avoid this debate on the review of MPs’ compensation. For decades, this subject has always aroused unexpected, sometimes unreasonable passions. The recent tabling of a bill in this area clearly illustrates that we are heading towards another inappropriate drama.
In order to avoid superfluous flights of fancy, it would be wise to examine a few hypotheses leading to a more stable general policy, sheltered from partisan vagaries.
What is the urgency? Why submit a bill at the deadline for adoption by mid-June? Are there any current members of the National Assembly who are threatening to quit Parliament for wage abuse? If so, let them pass. Each current parliamentarian knew last October what his working conditions would be. Let’s remove the pressure of a conflict of interest by proposing that any legislation passed by the current legislature would not take effect until after the next election.
This question of stewardship having been settled, let’s get to the heart of the matter: working conditions. In addition to salaries, there are bonuses of all kinds and, above all, pensions.
Salaries
The salary seems fixed compared to other Canadian legislatures. It’s fashionable, because there is no other trade, temporary it should be specified, comparable. The problem is not necessarily the amount of $100,000, but the increase in it. If it is true that the current salary has not been changed for 10 years, this is unacceptable. No company treats its workers like this.
We propose an annual review, based on an index recognized by all. Let’s fix an adjustment that will prevent the eternal debates about the “timing” of the increases (by the way, it’s never the right time). There is no need to provide for a salary scale to take performance into account, this is settled at the election.
Some might offer the consumer price index (CPI) as an indicator. This would be a mistake, since not all workers and retirees receive an annual increase based on the CPI. I suggest that MPs’ salaries increase at the same rate as, for example, the minimum wage in Quebec. Our legislators would thus find it advantageous to increase the minimum wage for Quebecers.
Bonuses
The current debate has also revealed that 115 of the 125 deputies receive bonuses of some kind. In addition to those awarded to the Prime Minister and ministers, voters discover that there is a myriad of bonuses.
This system would benefit from being reviewed, upwards or downwards, and better justified. On the other hand, the bonuses granted to the Prime Minister and ministers should be seriously reviewed.
Is it normal that a majority of leaders in the public service and state corporations with greater job stability earn more than the salary of the responsible ministers (sometimes double or triple)? Taking the time to think about it seems necessary to me. Again, the debate could be depoliticized.
Members’ pensions
The elephant in the room is the MP pension scheme. It has quite simply become archaic, outside the habits and customs of today’s world. Everything has been said and written about this plan, which offers MPs a lifetime pension, indexed, fully earned in 25 years, with a minimum contribution from the MP.
Imagine a 20-year-old who is elected and re-elected in the next six elections. He would earn his full salary as an MP and could retire at the age of 45 while keeping his salary in the form of a fully indexed pension for life.
If there is an emergency, this is it. The member should contribute normally to his pension fund, and not be entitled to his full pension until he is 65 years old. The indexation of its premiums should be equal to that granted to Quebecers benefiting from the Quebec Pension Plan. What is good for the Quebec pensioner would also be good for the Quebec legislator.
Taking all the time to properly reassess the overall remuneration of MPs would also make it possible to better analyze the bonuses for returning to private life, which is not always easy.
These are some of the arguments that militate in favor of a calm and non-partisan study of a bill dealing with the total compensation of members. It is essential to do so, but not in a hurry. After such a study, no MP will have to walk the halls in shame or hold their noses to pass this possible law.
P.S. : No candidate knows exactly what he is getting into. It is nice to imagine things, it is, let’s face it, a ” job crazy “. The most beautiful moments for an elected person occur in the hours following his election. Afterwards, the slope is downhill, with more or less speed.