Premier Jason Kenney and Alberta's MLAs are all taking a pay cut

On Tuesday, August 7, the special standing committee on members’ services passed a pay reduction for Alberta’s premier and MLAs.

According to a release, MLAs will take a 5% pay cut, while the premier will take a 10% cut, fulfilling a promise made by Jason Kenney during his election campaign earlier in the year.

“Out-of-control spending by the previous government put Alberta on track for $100 billion in debt, jeopardizing the future of public services. We were elected with a mandate to be fiscally responsible, and that has to start at the top,” Kenney said in the release.

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The province says that when combined with 5% reductions from 2015, MLAs will be paid $13,000 less, and the premier $31,500 less, than salaries seen in 2014.

In addition, the committee reduced MLA travel expenses, removing gas cards and “harmonizing the standard mileage rate with that of other public servants.”

Kenney thanked the MLAs for accepting the pay cuts, saying that this was “clear evidence that they are motivated by a strong sense of public service.”