Thank you, Mr. Pollard. Mr. Gargan.
Debates of March 14th, 1994
Topics
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 568
The Chair Brian Lewis
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 568
Samuel Gargan Deh Cho
Which section concerns the Ministers' salaries?
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 568
The Chair Brian Lewis
Mr. Pollard.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 568
John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Chairman, you would refer to 24(1). Section A is with regard to the Government Leader, section A1 refers to Ministers, A2 to the Speaker, and 1B refers to the Deputy Speaker, et cetera. Thank you.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 568
The Chair Brian Lewis
Mr. Gargan.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 568
Samuel Gargan Deh Cho
Mr. Chairman, it refers to 23(1), but it doesn't say anything about 24(1). It skips 24(1) and then goes to 25(1).
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 568
The Chair Brian Lewis
Mr. Pollard.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 568
John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Chairman, a couple of years ago, the Ministers took a reduction in their basic ministerial pay. At the same time, when legislation was changed with regards to COLA, the Ministers' portion of this particular act was not subject to the 1.8 per cent increase. It is in there at a flat rate. It does not automatically change and that's why it is not affected, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 568
The Chair Brian Lewis
Mr. Gargan.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 568
Samuel Gargan Deh Cho
What is the flat rate then? Nothing?
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 568
The Chair Brian Lewis
Mr. Pollard.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 568
John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Chairman, could I seek clarification? The flat rate with regard to ministerial salaries?
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 568
The Chair Brian Lewis
Mr. Gargan, would you clarify what you mean by flat rate?
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 568
Samuel Gargan Deh Cho
When the Minister refers to flat rate, are we looking at zero per cent?
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 568
The Chair Brian Lewis
Mr. Pollard.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 568
John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Chairman, the Ministers receive pay for being MLAs and they receive pay for being Ministers. Under the present act, the pay for all MLAs, including Ministers, is covered at the rate of 1.8 per cent increase. The monies that Ministers receive for being Ministers is not covered under that increase. It does not automatically increase each year. There is a zero increase per legislation with Ministers' salaries. If Ministers' salaries were going to be raised, then the legislation would have to be changed and brought to this House, Mr. Chairman. It does not go up automatically. Thank you.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 568
The Chair Brian Lewis
Is that clear, Mr. Gargan?
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 568
Samuel Gargan Deh Cho
Yes. So, by accepting this, we are in fact freezing everything and we're not going to get the 1.8 per cent increase, right?
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 568
The Chair Brian Lewis
Mr. Pollard.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 568
John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Chairman, that's correct. It covers the basic indemnity, the chairpersons, committee indemnities and constituency. All of these would receive no increases in this particular fiscal year, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 568
The Chair Brian Lewis
Thank you, Mr. Pollard. Mr. Gargan.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 569
Samuel Gargan Deh Cho
But that does not include the Executive, the Ministers?
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 569
The Chair Brian Lewis
Mr. Pollard.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 569
John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Chairman, it is not included in the piece of legislation we have before us because it was not going to go up anyway. The Ministers' salaries remain the same as well. There are no increases in Ministers' salaries. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 569
The Chair Brian Lewis
The 1.8 per cent did not apply to Ministers' salaries anyway. Mr. Gargan.