The House of Commons has stated that it was necessary to raise the salary of a Member of Parliament from New Brunswick, regardless of his personal preference. According to an affidavit submitted in Federal Court by House clerk Eric Janse, all MPs must receive the specified amounts mandated by legislation, as deviating from this would be unlawful and inconvenient. Miramichi-Grand Lake Conservative MP Mike Dawson had filed a judicial review application in June to block the $8,800 raise, prompting Janse to respond with his affidavit last month.
The House Administration maintains that the sessional allowance for the applicant must be paid in accordance with the Parliament of Canada Act, including any applicable annual adjustments, as a legal requirement. Accommodating Dawson’s refusal of the raise would necessitate special administrative actions by House staff to calculate and maintain a separate sessional allowance specifically for him each year during his tenure as an MP.
Last year, the base salary for MPs was $208,900, which increased to $217,700 on April 1. MP salaries are tied to a formula linked to private-sector salary increases by federal legislation. Dawson argues that accepting an $8,800 raise amidst economic challenges for many Canadians is unjust. Drawing on his experience as a business owner, he asserts that deducting federal taxes from employees’ pay is a straightforward process that should apply to his situation as well.
Despite donating his raise to charity, Dawson insists on the right to object to the raise entirely. House of Commons Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia’s spokesperson, Olivier Duhaime, mentioned that Scarpaleggia and Janse declined to comment on the matter and that comprehensive legal arguments are anticipated to be submitted within the next two months.