By Allison Jones
Ontario members of provincial parliament are set to get big raises and access to a pension plan, under legislation introduced by Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy.
The government says this comes with the support of all parties in the legislature.
The base pay for Ontario’s elected officials has been frozen since 2009 at $116,550, and the changes would boost the salary to $157,350, which is 75 per cent of what federal MPs make.
Premier Doug Ford’s salary would rise from about $209,000 to about $282,000 and cabinet ministers would see their pay increase from about $166,000 to about $224,000.
The bill would also resurrect a pension plan for the members of provincial parliament, 30 years after the previous one was abolished by former premier Mike Harris’ government.
The new plan would see members enrolled in the existing Public Service Pension Plan, and they would then be entitled to supplemental benefits for MPPs who serve at least six years.
