Liberal MLA pleads for salary, expense and allowance increases
Keith Irving says the freeze on salaries and compensation may keep good people from seeking office
Keith Irving is not running in the next provincial election but he thinks those who win their seats deserve a raise, an increase in their housing allowance and more money for their office budgets.
The Liberal MLA for Kings South said the continuation of a long-standing pay freeze could affect who is able to run for office.
"MLAs have not had a salary increase in 13 years," Irving said last week during a 10-minute speech on the topic on the floor of the Nova Scotia legislature.
MLAs are paid $89,234.90 a year. Irving said by his calculation that worked out to a take-home pay of $54,400 last year.
"In fact, the current MLA salary almost qualified for the home heating rebate last year, afforded to Nova Scotians struggling with inflation," he said.
That rebate program for homeowners and renters is available to families earning a net — or after-tax — income of up to $75,000 or single-person households with a net income up to $55,000.
While other MLAs have grumbled privately and complained among themselves about their salaries and expense allowances, Irving is the first and only member of the House to speak out publicly in favour of increases.
MLA salaries were last increased in 2012, and office budgets and allowances were frozen the following year.
MLAs who are allowed to rent apartments because they live more than 100 kilometres from Province House get a maximum of $1,500 a month, while cabinet ministers get $1,700 a month.
Irving said other politicians in the province have enjoyed regular salary increases, including members of Parliament.
"Their salaries are now $200,000," he said. "Councillors in HRM are now approaching, if not over $100,000.
"All have had increases over the last 10 years to address inflationary pressures — MLAs have not."
According to law, MLA remuneration is to be reviewed by an independent panel following every election, and the group's recommendations are supposed to be binding.
Two years ago, Premier Tim Houston recalled the legislature for a rare "emergency" summer sitting to block a pending pay raise of 12.6 per cent, a recommendation brought forward by an independent review committee.
That bill passed with all-party support.
Irving suggested he and his colleagues voted that way simply to avoid a public backlash, particularly on social media.
"No one wants to be voting in a raise, and get five or 10 per cent of people on Twitter saying, 'Oh my God, look what those guys are doing,'" said Irving.
"We've a duty to the other 90 or 95 per cent of Nova Scotians that do value our work and understand that we put in long hours, that we make significant sacrifices. We love our work, but our families also make these sacrifices.
"If we can't respect the work that we do, why would we expect Nova Scotians to respect our work?"
During his speech, Irving noted what the last independent panel referenced in its 2022 report: that low pay and benefits might keep people from running for office.
"It is critically important to democratic government that no one is dissuaded from seeking public office solely on account of perceived financial risk or certain disproportionate financial loss," noted the 2022 panel.
"While political life is voluntarily chosen by those who serve, there are long-term impacts on their family life and career development.
"If the cost is too great to career or too onerous to family, the field of candidates narrows and the quality shrinks."
Asked about a possible salary increase for MLAs, the premier told reporters Friday it wasn't among the top 10 things on his government's to-do list.
But he also adopted a softer line than the one he used two years ago when he dismissed MLA raises out of hand.
"We're focused on a number of other things but I certainly appreciate that that is a discussion in some circles," said Houston. "It's a discussion to be had."
Irving is not reoffering but will continue to represent Kings South until the next election is called.
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