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Fighting inflation, the Ontario MPPs' way?
The Ontario Finance Minister, Peter Bethenfalvy, tabled legislation to give himself and every Ontario MPP a 35 percent pay hike.
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Prabhjot Paul Singh - Tue, 10, Jun 2025
- 22:41 EDT
- 14
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Stock image. / istock
Members of the Ontario Provincial Parliament have devised a novel plan to combat inflation, at least on their own. At breakneck speed, they brought in legislation and virtually approved it instantaneously, completing all three readings and receiving the royal assent on the same day.
The Ontario Finance Minister, Peter Bethenfalvy, tabled legislation to give himself and every Ontario MPP a 35 percent pay hike, which was approved the same day. The increase in pay hike would be passed on to Ontarians, who would be footing the bill.
Justifying the pay hike, the Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethenfalvy said, "MPPs are people too. They have to pay for groceries. They have to pay rent and spend time away from their families."
The pay and pension hike of elected legislators is an issue that has been generating animated discussions worldwide, suggesting that they are among the first to feel the pinch of inflation. Masses bear the brunt.
The new legislation passed and assented to on the same day raises the base salary of every Member of the Provincial Parliament or MLA from $116,550 to $157,450. Simultaneously, it introduces a new taxpayer-funded pension plan, which costs Ontarians over $6 million annually.
Interestingly, the Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, receives a $73,000 raise, while NDP leader Marit Stiles earns an additional $63,000.
Cutting across party and political lines and ideologies, the bill quickly gained support from the NDP, Liberals, Greens, and Ontario's independent MPPs, as it was approved virtually instantaneously, completing all three readings and receiving royal assent on the same day.
This hike comes at a time when the debt of the Ford government is projected to hit half a trillion dollars by 2027.
The New Blue Party of Ontario, led by Anthony Zambito, has come out strongly against this pay hike, aligning with all major political parties in Ontario. In a statement, it said that only last month, the Fraser Institute released a report saying that Ontario's wage growth is lagging behind the rest of Canada.
"Led by Doug Ford, the Progressive Conservatives look in lockstep with the federal Liberals as they have been taxing Ontarians into economic stagnation since 2018.
"Instead of hiring back Ontario's nurses or following through on cutting electricity rates, Ford and his men have been patting themselves on the back for roping us into this mess.
"This is why Ontario needs the New Blue. Instead of indebting Ontarians to pay for MPP raises, our party advocates for meaningful tax relief. We are the only party that stands in opposition to Ford's reckless spending," the New Blue Party said.
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