NDP would slash MLA pay by 20% and pensions by more than 50%

Passing NDP 20/50 bill will be a condition of NDP support if there is a minority government

FREDERICTON – The NDP will push for cuts to MLA pay and pensions if an NDP voice is elected to the New Brunswick Legislature on September 27^th, NDP Leader Roger Duguay announced today.

"Conservative and Liberal MLAs voted themselves a pay package that is way too rich for middle class families to accept," Mr. Duguay said at a press conference. "The NDP will cut supersized MLA pay and pensions down to a reasonable level. We need good politicians, and everyone needs a good salary and good pension, but our politicians have given themselves unacceptable pay increases."

Mr. Duguay released the NDP '20/50' bill, which sets out exactly how the NDP would reduce MLA pay and pensions, at today's press conference. The bill reduces MLA salaries by 20%, eliminates MLA supplementary pension allowances, eliminates the bonus pensions paid to Cabinet ministers and party leaders, and reduces severance pay by over 83% when MLAs quit or are not re-elected. In total, these changes reduce MLA pensions by over 50%.

"New Democrats in the Legislature will do everything in our power to pass the NDP 20/50 bill to cut MLA pay by 20% and pensions by over half," Mr. Duguay said. "If there is a minority government, passing the NDP 20/50 bill will be a bottom-line condition of NDP support."

The NDP has also launched a poster campaign and petition calling for MLA pay and pensions to be cut. The poster parodies of the poster for the film Supersize Me to make the point that the Conservatives and Liberals have supersized their own pensions.

"Our poster is a lighthearted way to draw attention to a serious issue," Mr. Duguay said. "It is a way to draw attention to a situation that is not funny, supersized MLA pensions, and to talk about how the NDP has a realistic plan to fix this problem."

Members of the public can sign the online petition to cut MLA pay and pensions by going to www.supersizemypension.ca.