CALGARY, AB – Wildrose Leader Heather Forsyth released the following statement on news the PC government will cut cabinet minister base pay by 5 per cent.
“While my Wildrose colleagues and I welcome any cut to cabinet minister pay, I’m disappointed Premier Prentice chose not to take real action in addressing the bloated compensation packages Cabinet Ministers receive.
“As Wildrose has recommended for years, total compensation for cabinet ministers should immediately be rolled back by 30 per cent and adjusted for inflation to 2008 levels.
“MLA wages should also immediately be rolled back by a full 8 per cent to where they were before the PCs rewarded themselves with an extra $11,000 in the fall of 2012. Wildrose brought forward a motion at the time to do this, and that motion was rejected by many of the same members of the PC caucus supporting this change today. I intend to bring forward this motion again at the Members’ Services Committee meeting on February 4th.
“If the Wildrose plan were implemented, taxpayers would save around $1.4 million and Albertans would see real leadership.
“Today’s announcement amounts to window dressing. It does not go near far enough to achieve savings or signal a change in culture.”