Edmonton - Premier Allison Redford is calling the Government's Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing "ridiculous".
CTV News reported Wednesday that the 21 member legislature committee has not met or had any orders of business in more than 3 years, yet each MLA on it has been receiving at least $1000.00 a month in committee pay.
"It isn't the way Albertans want politicians to be paid [and] it's why I've asked for an independent look at how everyone in the legislature is being paid," Redford said Friday.
While quick to criticize the committee the premiere stopped short of saying she would be taking any immediate action to disband it, instead Redford said the government will wait until the MLA pay review that is currently underway is completed.
Since the news of idle Privileges and Elections committee broke earlier this week there has been significant public displeasure.
Scott Hennig with The Canadian Taxpayers Federation says the onus should be on the Premier to do something about the situation now. "She knows this is wrong she called it ridiculous, you're the premier, on Monday you're back in the Legislature, fix it," Hennig said Friday.
Liberal MLA David Swann who is one of the 21 MLA's on the committee is also calling for action. He says the government has been aware of the situation for some time and should have done something by now. Swann says he donates the $1000.00 per month he receives.
The MLA compensation review is expected to be completed in the spring. Premier Redford said she's confident the review will contain recommendation's regarding MLA Committee pay.
No comments:
Post a Comment