Cliff McIsaac has no doubt the current crop of parliamentarians is worth more than they are being paid.
But 20 percent more?
“Well, I think the public is a lot more cynical these days about politicians than they were in my day, so I’m sure there’s going to be some crying, but I think they can positively be justified,” the former provincial cabinet minister and federal Liberal MP from North Battleford, Sask., said on May 30, the day after a commission on parliamentary pay recommended a whopping increase.
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“If they go through with this, I don’t think they will have a rebellion. They won’t hear much applause either.”
McIsaac speaks from experience.
In 1980, the defeated MP chaired a similar commission that proposed a more modest, but still controversial, parliamentary pay increase.
Last week, the union representing 40,000 federal employees called the latest proposals “insulting.” Government spending critics, including the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation, howled.
Many opposition MPs were uneasy about taxpayer reaction.
But as early as June 5, the government was expected to present legislation giving parliamentarians most of what the commission proposed.
Former Liberal cabinet minister Ed Lumley, who chaired the commission, said Canada’s parliamentarians are underpaid, which makes it harder to attract and keep quality candidates for political office.
“We shouldn’t have to be defensive about the compensation you are receiving.”
Prime minister Jean Chrétien, his cabinet and most Liberal MPs supported the proposals.
New Democrats suggested the increase be 10 percent.
Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative MPs suggested the increase not take effect until after the next election.
