The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) wants MPs to take a pay cut during the COVID-19 crisis. With their April 1st pay the CTF says MPs are making over $180,000 a year. The Federation called on MPs to donate their raises.
"It's fair to say most MPs felt this was a bad look," says National Director Aaron Wudrick. "We asked them to donate their pay raise because they didn't have time to change the legislation because Parliament isn't sitting. And about 200 of them out of 338 have confirmed they are going to donate their raise to charity."
But now the CTF is calling for more, noting many world leaders are cutting their pay. The Federation wants politicians in Ottawa to do the same.
"The prime minister of New Zealand, a good friend of Justin Trudeau, cut her own pay by 20-percent," says Wudrick. "We're asking MPs here to start looking at taking a hit like most Canadians, and proactively cut their own pay."