JUST THE FACTS: Lukaszuk wrong. Again.

EDMONTON, AB (November 6, 2012): Only the PCs and Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk would call $10,826 cash bonus a pay cut.

Here are the facts on MLA pay:

  1. The transition allowance has been cancelled since the election.
  2. As of yesterday, before the actions of the PC-dominated Members’ Services Committee, an MLAs annual pay was $134,000 plus $11,485 in RRSP contributions from the taxpayer.  This comes to a total compensation of $145,485. 
  3. As of right now, thanks to the actions of the PC-dominated Members’ Services Committee, an MLAs annual pay is $134,000 plus an additional $17,420 cash bonus and up to $4,891 in matching RRSP contributions.  This comes to a total compensation of $156,311.

For Lukaszuk’s benefit: $156,311 is more than $145,485. It is in fact an 8.1% pay increase.

These problems with basic addition and subtraction may explain why the PC government has so much trouble balancing the budget.

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