Freezing MPs' pay would be symbol - Move could ease public

BYLINE: Mia Rabson
SOURCE: Hill Talk

OTTAWA -- Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger has already put the kibosh on a salary hike for cabinet ministers this year and is mulling doing the same for all MLAs. It's all part of the government's attempt at belt-tightening, and while the wage hike is a paltry amount compared to the projected $592-million provincial deficit, it's a symbolic move.

Kind of like one I remember from 2008 that had the Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper telling political parties everyone had to do their part to cut back and it was going to eliminate subsidies paid to political parties. You know, the one that triggered a meltdown in the House, nearly led to an opposition coalition government, and caused Harper to prorogue Parliament to calm everything down?

Begrudging the money paid to politicians is a favourite pastime for some, though not for this reporter. I've always felt if we want good politicians we have to pay them well.

But Canada's MPs and ministers are well paid. In 2009-10, a regular MP will earn $157,731, a cabinet minister $233,247 and Prime Minister Stephen Harper will gross $315,462.

To avoid having to vote on their own raises, Parliament normally hikes MP salaries annually using an index of the increases paid to public-sector workers. Last year the Expenditure Restraint Act limited the increase to 1.5 per cent.

With 1.5 million Canadians on the unemployment lines, it would be an even bigger symbolic gesture for Ottawa to curtail any planned increase in MP wages this year.

It's not like it will put even a small dent in the $56-billion deficit, but it could be close to $1 million, and every dollar counts. It could also be a boost to political morale for an ever-cynical public that never trusts politicians to put their own money on the line.

Flare-up over torch relay

The Olympic torch relay wound its way through Manitoba last week and for the most part it was the spirited, fun event it is intended to be.

But it nearly turned into yet another battle of political wills.

You see, back in November, after a big fuss about Conservatives hogging the torch relay events for their own ridings turned out to be a misunderstanding, Winnipeg NDP MP Pat Martin was promised by Minister for Sport Gary Lunn that he would be involved.

"We want to share this amazing experience with everyone," Lunn wrote to Martin in an email. "I will ensure you are able to participate."

Fast forward to January, and the afternoon before the Olympic flame touched Manitoba soil, Martin couldn't get any information about the relay events. Neither could Liberal Anita Neville or NDP MP Jim Maloway.

Maloway noted the relay was going to go right past his Regent Avenue office but he couldn't find out anything about it.

After a frantic series of calls and emails, Martin finally got word from Lunn's office late Monday afternoon that he would be welcome on stage for the torch celebration at The Forks, which is in his riding.

It was a toss-up among colleagues as to whether there was any real reason for opposition MPs to feel affronted for not being invited to participate in the event.

I expect if you polled Canadians, most would suggest no politicians should be involved.

But in the spirit of the Olympics, perhaps the error should always be on the side of the more the merrier.

Speaking of which, have they allowed female ski jumpers to participate in Vancouver 2010 yet?

Nyah, nyah, Ottawa

Winnipeggers might be moaning about the frigid weather, but jealous Ottawa skaters probably will take note that for the third year in a row, Winnipeg's River Trail is open long before the storied Rideau Canal Skateway.

Portions of the River Trail have been open for gliding for more than a week already.

But skaters in Ottawa are still sidelined thanks to warm weather and too much snow. Ottawa needs two weeks of at least -15 C temperatures for the ice to get thick enough, more if there is too much snow insulating the surface.

In the first seven days of this year, the average temperature in Ottawa ranged from -6.5 to -12.9 and more than 21 cm of snow fell. (Trust me, that suggestion some made that our buying a new snow blower was going to mean we didn't get any snow this year has proved to be completely false.)

Ironically, the warmer weather would be ideal for skating.

Oh well. I hear the airlines have some pretty good seat sales to Winnipeg these days.