Newfoundland and Labrador’s elected MHAs should be paid around $22,000 more per year starting in 2027, according to the recommendations of a new report from the province’s Members’ Compensation Review Committee (MCRC).
“The 2026 MCRC believes fair and reasonable compensation will assist in ensuring that people with diverse backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to seek public office,” reads the report.
The 162-page report, by lawyer Heather Jacobs, was released on Tuesday. It says the annual salary for an MHA should rise to $117,000 by April 1.
Elected officials in Newfoundland and Labrador have the second-lowest salary in Canada when compared to their provincial counterparts, according to the report.
MHAs currently make $95,357 per year as a base salary, and haven’t seen a pay raise since December 2009. Prince Edward Island provincial politicians earn the least with a salary of $86,924, while Ontario members of provincial parliament earn $163,275.
The report released on Tuesday is the second report from the committee in three years. A March 2024 report recommended an increase to $120,000 per year, which was opposed at the time by then-premier Andrew Furey.
Jacobs, the author of both reports, said the 2026 version served to update the recommendations made in 2024.
Furey criticizes proposed hefty hike in MHA pay, as debate reignites over what politicians earn
Report recommends $25K salary increase for MHAs, after annual salary frozen for 15 years
Additionally, the report recommends a rise for additional-salary positions — roles MHAs take on as part the structure of the House of Assembly.
Some raises include $61,000 for the Speaker of the House and the Opposition Leader, $33,000 for the Leader of the Third Party, $5,000 for party whips and more.
“Many MHAs told the [committee] that anyone that takes on additional responsibility should be paid fairly. They said these positions require a significant amount of work and should be remunerated,” the report said.
Paul Lane, the Independent MHA for Mount Pearl-Southlands, serves as Speaker in the House of Assembly. (Ted Dillon/CBC)
Speaker Paul Lane told reporters on Tuesday that he’s choosing to remain impartial on the report with his role, but said he knows what MHAs earn can be a hot button issue among taxpayers.
“Every time there’s a new assembly, this process happens. And it has happened, and there has been recommendations. But, yet, we haven’t seen any changes since 2009. So I’m not sure if you can necessarily tie this to the economy per se,” Lane said.
“You get into this whole argument of when is a good time, is there ever a good time … I think other people would say that it’s very important to our democratic system that we do have good people in place, and that they should be compensated fairly.”
The report also recommends a formula be put into legislation to make annual adjustments to salaries tied to Newfoundland and Labrador’s consumer price index. Jacobs recommended the formula be in place by July 1, 2027.
The recommendations will now go before the House of Assembly Management Commission, which includes MHAs from all parties, Lane and a clerk. A briefing is scheduled for Oct. 21.
“[They] will make a decision as to whether to accept all or some or none of the recommendations. Possibly make amendments to the recommendations, or suggest amendments,” Lane said.
In an emailed statement, the Opposition Liberal Party thanked Jacobs for her work and said it will review the report in case the government brings it into the House for debate.
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