Government Salaries for UCP MLAs:
We came with links.
At the Sherwood Park Town Hall, a gentleman came up and suggested that MLA remuneration should be based on the average pay for Albertans and multiply that by three.
Danielle Smith answered that the pay for an MLA was $120,000 (fyi, that is their base salary). Let’s dig into this: MLAs make $123,025 per year. Added to that is a $2,200 housing allowance (which increased 14% this year, more than AISH recipients make to cover their entire monthly expenses). We are up to $149,425/MLA. It does not yet reach $210,000
Now Danielle Smith’s cabinet has grown - She has 25 Ministers, each minister will get between $50,000 and $100,000/year (we will use an average of $75,000). Her two Associate Ministers will get between $30,000 and $60,000/year (Average is $45,000). On top of that, we have 10 Parliamentary Secretaries who get $10,000 to $20,000 more ($15,000).
Nine UCP MLAs do not have a portfolio, but they can earn extra money by sitting on committees. Danielle has 37/46 who are loyal to her.
A Minister will make $224,425. This times 25 equals $5,610,625. Her Associate Ministers are paid $184,425 (total $368,850). Parliamentary Secretaries' extra compensation is $164,425. (total $1,644,250) We are spending $7,623,725. This does not include the extra money that is paid out for sitting on committees. They also have expense accounts and money that is for a retirement portfolio on top of these wages.
I find it interesting that their Deputy Ministers make so much more…
In 2022, Deputy Ministers made $285,877. https://opengovca.com/alberta-employee?
So what do you think? Are the UCP MLAs being compensated fairly for the number of days they sit? This year they are sitting for 50 days.
Here is the payment to MLAs in 2023-24. It includes compensation plus expense accounts. (The Honourable Danielle Smith - their words, not mine - cost Albertans $275,748.)
Fire the lot of them except independents and ndp.
MLA only sit 50 days! U have got to be kidding?