EDMONTON — Alberta’s governing Tories have pulled back their motion to have taxpayers pay the full $23,000 yearly RRSP contribution for all members of the legislature.
Instead, the Tories used their majority on an all-party committee to give members a straight-up payout equal to 13 per cent of their salary per year.
There is also an option to have taxpayers match a portion of their RRSP payments.
Tory Whip Steve Young says the new total is far below what politicians got before the spring election and even less than what was recommended in an independent report into their pay.
But Wildrose leader Danielle Smith says the new figure is still a 16 per cent hike on the $134,000 base pay for politicians.
NDP leader Brian Mason says because the money does not have to be used for a pension plan, it’s not a pension plan at all but a straightforward pay boost.