Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) Mike Dawson has taken a stand by requesting the House of Commons to freeze his salary before the usual annual pay increase for parliamentarians in April. In a letter shared on Facebook, Dawson expressed his concern about the financial struggles faced by everyday Canadians due to the rising cost of living. He emphasized that accepting a pay raise at this time would be inappropriate, given the long-standing lack of significant wage growth for the working population in Canada.
According to the legislation governing politicians’ pay, all members of parliament are slated to receive a salary bump based on yearly increases determined by an index tracking wage settlements in the private sector. While the final indexed rate for 2025 from Employment and Social Development Canada is pending, Dawson estimated it to be approximately $10,000.
Dawson stated that his decision to decline the pay raise aligns with his moral values and his primary goal of serving Canada and his constituency of Miramich-Grand Lake. He mentioned his willingness to donate the raise to local charities or food banks if he cannot directly opt out of it. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation commended Dawson for his principled stance, emphasizing the importance of ethical leadership in rejecting automatic pay raises.
Backbench MPs saw their annual salary surpass $200,000 in 2024 as per the pay increase schedule, with higher salaries for special officeholders such as ministers, parliamentary secretaries, the Speaker, and the Prime Minister. Prime Ministers earn over $400,000 annually, while ministers and the leader of the Official Opposition receive around $300,000. The Federation urged MPs to consider halting automatic pay raises until the government addresses its debt situation.
Despite his public stance on the matter, Dawson clarified that he respects his colleagues’ individual decisions regarding the pay raise and does not expect them to follow his lead.
