Liberals and Conservatives put aside their differences and work together...

ottawasub · Dec 12, 2006

...to give themselves a big, fat pay raise.

The Liberal government, with the support of the Opposition Conservatives, surprised observers by introducing legislation to raise salaries for members of the legislature.

If the bill passes, members of the Ontario legislature will earn a base salary of just over $110,000 a year — a raise of $22,000 — and will also see a doubling of their RRSP allowance, from five per cent to 10 per cent of their salary.

Conservative Leader John Tory noted he has consistently said the issue of pay for politicians should not become an annual political football, and said he agreed to support the pay raise because it’s necessary to get the best people.

“People are not attracted to public life, or find themselves unable to seek public office for, among other reasons, the compensation is not fair and appropriate for the responsibilities involved,” Tory said.

By going along with this, Tory has just blown a perfect opportunity to use this as an issue in next years election against McGuinty. And Tory`s pathetic "justification" of it is that MPP`s need high salaries to ensure they get the best candidates for the jobs. Like as if these guys will automatically become more competent once this gets approved.

The most laughable part...

The Ontario legislature was supposed to break for Christmas this Thursday, but will now sit next week to ensure the pay-raise bill passes before the house adjourns.

I guarantee they wouldn`t postpone their early Christmas break for any other issue.

basketcase · Dec 12, 2006

It's about time, I heard those guys had to use the food banks.

LancsLad · Dec 13, 2006

basketcase said:
It's about time, I heard those guys had to use the food banks.

Thats why the libs liked Gerrard kennedy, he stole food for them from the one he worked at.

Quest4Less · Dec 13, 2006

Disgusting they can give themselves a raise at all, never mind a 28% raise. My job has not seen more than 2 - 3 percent per year in ages (that's not even cost of living).

What other 'employees' get to give themselves a raise??

The public should have to vote to give politicians a raise.

basketcase · Dec 13, 2006

Quest4Less said:
...
What other 'employees' get to give themselves a raise??
...

As Lance said, crooked ones.

oldjones · Dec 15, 2006

These are the same guys who whine about Hydro's "culture of entitlement", profess outrage because the CAS used car allowances instead of pay raises and refused to raise the minimum wage above the poverty line a few weeks back.

When the swivel servants who actually do the work of government come asking for a raise, you can bet the only double digits they'll get will be the sort that's administered anally.

Oink, Oink John and Dalton.

lurkerjoe · Dec 15, 2006

Not that I agree but the total cost to this is $2.3M. What I'm wondering is why we don't bitch when the Leafs spend that much on an over the hill player and passing the buck to us?! MLE just as big porkers as the jokes who call themselves MPPs. Just shows that the world is messed up.

basketcase · Dec 15, 2006

Yah but we don't vote for the leafs to spend our money. If you don't like them, don't pay to see them and cheer for someone else.

lurkerjoe · Dec 15, 2006

basketcase said:
Yah but we don't vote for the leafs to spend our money. If you don't like them, don't pay to see them and cheer for someone else.

My point is that it don't matter who it is - the little guys always get screwed. I didn't vote for the Libs or the Cons and I'm still stuck with their pay raises. I can cheer for another team but which pro team hasn't screwed their fans recently? All I'm saying is that corporate or public greed is screwing the small guys more than ever.

pussylicker · Dec 16, 2006

lurkerjoe said:
Not that I agree but the total cost to this is $2.3M. What I'm wondering is why we don't bitch when the Leafs spend that much on an over the hill player and passing the buck to us?! MLE just as big porkers as the jokes who call themselves MPPs. Just shows that the world is messed up.

There is a big difference my friend. You have the option to go to a Leafs game, or watch it at home, or not watch it at all. Wasting tax payers money is not an option for the Gov't, even though it's become standard policy. Wasted tax dollars means more needed later, and then you have to pay the increase, or suffer from program cuts.

You do have a say when it comes to corps, and their greed and gluttony. You can stop purchasing their product.

oldjones · Dec 16, 2006

What are these Leafs of which you are speaking, and why would one pay for them? Do they not grow on trees?

lurkerjoe · Dec 17, 2006

pussylicker said:
There is a big difference my friend. You have the option to go to a Leafs game, or watch it at home, or not watch it at all. Wasting tax payers money is not an option for the Gov't, even though it's become standard policy. Wasted tax dollars means more needed later, and then you have to pay the increase, or suffer from program cuts.

You do have a say when it comes to corps, and their greed and gluttony. You can stop purchasing their product.

I see no difference - if we can't stand the politics (the product), we can move away and stop paying taxes (don't buy the product). As for choice in purchasing a product, that's a myth in some sectors, we can go to Petro-Canada (a type of politics) that charges 90.3 cent gas, Esso (another type type of politics) at 90.5 cents or any of the other gas stations at about the same price - where's the choice - aside from not using it (move out)? See the analogy?

Most people don't because they still believe they have complete choice in what they buy.

Never Compromised · Dec 17, 2006

From my perspective, politicians are underpaid. Executives in the private sector are paid much much more.

You think the president of Ford Canada would work for only $110,000 a year?

You get what you pay for. If you are wiling to have someone that is happy to work for only $75,000 a year, don't be surprised if you get a flake that robs you blind.

markvee · Dec 18, 2006

Compromised said:
From my perspective, politicians are underpaid. Executives in the private sector are paid much much more.

You think the president of Ford Canada would work for only $110,000 a year?

You get what you pay for. If you are wiling to have someone that is happy to work for only $75,000 a year, don't be surprised if you get a flake that robs you blind.

Power eventually corrupts, which is why we should change governments every so often (like diapers).

I believe in keeping politician pay low. A politician paid in the 4-digit range will probably steal only in that range, but a politician paid more will steal more.

I don't want presidents of big companies getting elected. These people have private sector money as a gauge for how much they should steal.

There is no limit to what politicians think they are worth. Voter outrage is the only thing to keep them in check.

I wish that a referendum would be run every election on what amount to pay politicians with the winner being the median amount voted.

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Liberals and Conservatives put aside their differences and work together...

ottawasub

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basketcase

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LancsLad

Unstable Element

Quest4Less

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basketcase

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oldjones

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lurkerjoe

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basketcase

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lurkerjoe

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pussylicker

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oldjones

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lurkerjoe

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Never Compromised

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markvee

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