As Canadians get set to head to the polls on April 28 for the country’s much-anticipated federal election, Canadian politicians are set to see their salaries increase.
The 343 members of the House of Commons will be receiving a raise, so too will the prime minister, cabinet ministers, leaders of opposition parties and senators.
How much more are they making?
Starting on Tuesday, all members of Parliament will see their salaries increase from $203,100 to $209,800, giving them an extra $6,700 per year.
The prime minister is getting a $6,700 raise (from $203,100 to $209,800, on top of their salary as an MP), while cabinet ministers will be receiving a $3,100 raise.
In total, the prime minister is set to make $419,600 this year, assuming they’re also an elected MP, while cabinet ministers will make up to $309,700.
Elsewhere, the leader of the opposition will be making $99,900 (in addition to their salary as an MP) compared to the previous $96,800, and leaders of “other recognized parties” will see a pay raise of $2,200, from $68,600 to $70,800, plus their salaries as MPs.
Senators are also seeing their salaries increase from $178,100 to $184,800, which amounts to a $6,700 raise.
Governmental salaries are adjusted every year on April 1 “based on the index of the average percentage increase in base-rate wages for a calendar year in Canada resulting from major settlements negotiated in the private sector,” according to the House’s Members’ Allowance and Services Manual.
What do politicians in provincial governments make?
In Ontario, members of the provincial Parliament (MPPs) are paid a base salary of $116,550.
In British Columbia, members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) are paid a salary of $119,532, with the premier making an additional $107,579. In Alberta, members of the legislative assembly are paid $120,936.
Atlantic Canada’s provincial representatives are paid $89,234 (Nova Scotia), $85,000 (New Brunswick), $78,541 (Prince Edward Island) and $95,357 (Newfoundland and Labrador).
What do politicians in the U.S. make?
Most members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate make $174,000 U.S. ($250,759 Canadian). The Speaker of the House has a $223,500 U.S. ($322,095 Canadian) salary, while the majority and minority leaders in both houses make $193,400 ($278,717 Canadian).
The President of the United States has a salary of $400,000 U.S. ($575,034 Canadian), while the Vice President of the United States makes $289,400 U.S. ($414,224 Canadian).
Cabinet secretaries — who oversee governmental departments such as the Department of the Treasury, Department of State and Department of Defense, among others — receive $250,600 U.S. ($360,916 Canadian).
What do politicians in the U.K. make?
In the United Kingdom, members of Parliament make 93,904 pounds ($174,372 Canadian), plus “expenses to cover the costs of running an office, employing staff, having somewhere to live in London or their constituency, and travelling between Parliament and their constituency.”
The British prime minister, however, is entitled to two salaries, according to the BBC, meaning they can also earn 80,807 pounds ($150,052 Canadian) for serving as the prime minister.
Earlier this year, a Leger poll found that most Canadians oppose MPs receiving a pay raise, with 59 per cent of the roughly 1,500 respondents saying that they strongly oppose the increase.
