Out of Touch Hudak PCs Argue for MPP Pay Hike, Call $116,550 salary "demeaning"

QUEEN'S PARK, ON, April 20, 2012 /CNW/ - After pledging to vote against the budget before reading it and refusing to offer a single suggestion, the Hudak PCs' only new budget idea is to hike MPP salaries they call "demeaning" - yet another sign the PCs are out of touch, said Liberal MPP Dwight Duncan.

In a new column authored by star 2011 Hudak PC candidate Andrea Mandel-Campbell, senior PC MPP Vic Fedeli complained that his taxpayer-funded $116,550 salary is too low:

"If you are a high level manager, why would you ever take up this responsibility, these kinds of hours and do this to your family?" says MPP Fedeli, who worries that as a result of the poor pay [for MPPs], only two sets of individuals will be drawn to the public service; either the very wealthy, or lower wage earners who feel they've hit the "jackpot.""
(National Post, April 20, 2012)

Mandel-Campbell added the $116K MPP salary is "pretty demeaning" and dismissively wrote she would have suffered a "pay cut" if she hadn't been rejected by voters in last year's election.

"Ontario Liberals are making the right choice by freezing MPP pay," said Duncan.  "The PCs keep making the wrong choices - asking for a raise even though they have no plan other than to oppose.  Their only objective is to force an unnecessary, expensive election that puts our economy at risk."

"The PCs are in denial and out of touch, proving once again that Tim Hudak still isn't up to the job," said Duncan.

"Ontario Liberals are making the right choices to build a stronger economy that supports Ontario families and their jobs," concluded Duncan.  "Now more than ever we need to move forward together with the strong action in our budget to keep the economy on track."

Brian Clow
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416-325-9300