The House of Commons says a Conservative MP who attempted to turn down a 4.2 percent pay raise cannot legally refuse the increase.
Conservative MP Mike Dawson filed an application for judicial review in Federal Court in June seeking to block the $8,800 annual pay raise, after saying it was “distasteful” for parliamentarians to receive the increase while Canadians are struggling with a cost-of-living crisis.
But Clerk of the House of Commons Eric Janse said in an affidavit filed in Federal Court that all members of Parliament must be paid the amounts set out in legislation and that it would be illegal to deviate from those amounts.
“The House Administration is of the view that the applicant’s sessional allowance must, as a matter of law, be paid in the amount prescribed by the Parliament of Canada Act, including all applicable annual adjustments,” Janse’s affidavit said.
“The House Administration is of the view that the applicant’s sessional allowance must, as a matter of law, be paid in the amount prescribed by the Parliament of Canada Act, including all applicable annual adjustments,” Janse’s affidavit said.
Janse also said that if Dawson declines the raise, House staff would have to “undertake administrative measures” to establish and maintain a separate calculation of his sessional allowance for each year he serves as an MP.
The base salary for all MPs was $208,900 last year and rose to $217,700 on April 1. A government minister will bring home $321,300, while Prime Minister Mark Carney has an annual salary of $435,400.
Dawson initially wrote a letter to Janse on Feb. 10 to reject the pay raise, saying he could not “in good conscience accept the pay increase of nearly $10,000” when Canadians are facing a high cost of living. Dawson said many Canadians had not “seen a decent raise in decades.”
Dawson was reportedly criticized by Conservative party whip Chris Warkentin for his attempt to refuse the pay raise. Dawson confirmed to CBC News that Warkentin took issue with how he sought to reject the increase, and said other MPs also criticized him when he defended his decision.
Dawson did not respond to The Epoch Times’ request for comment before press time.
Dawson was reportedly criticized by Conservative party whip Chris Warkentin for his attempt to refuse the pay raise. Dawson confirmed to CBC News that Warkentin took issue with how he sought to reject the increase, and said other MPs also criticized him when he defended his decision.
Dawson did not respond to The Epoch Times’ request for comment before press time.
