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Of course, this is completely hypothetical, but two of Kelowna's MLA would consider a pay cut as part of a COVID we-are-all-in-this-together act of solidarity.
The question was asked because Ontario Independent MPP (member of provincial parliament) Roman Baber introduced a private member's bill Wednesday asking that MPP's salaries be slashed to $500 a week, an amount equal to the pandemic-induced CERB (Canadian emergency response benefit).
"I would always be willing to take a pay cut if it was the right thing to do," said Kelowna-Mission Liberal MLA Renee Merrifield.
"I didn't become a MLA for the pay or the pension, but to serve."
Ben Stewart is the Liberal MLA for Kelowna West.
"(A pay cut) might get some support for a period of time," he said.
"But private member's bills rarely get introduced, let alone passed. I don't think a pay cut would be very constructive. MLAs have a heavy workload."
Stewart is a co-owner of Quails' Gate Winery in West Kelowna.
Merrifield is CEO of development company Troika in Kelowna.
Kelowna-Lake Country Liberal MLA Norm Letnick could not be reached Wednesday for comment.
Baber's initiative would apply only to Ontario MPPs, not BC MLAs, so the pay-cut issue in this province is a theoretical discussion rather than a potential reality.
Baber, a lawyer who represents the Toronto-area riding of York Centre as an Independent MPP, was member of the Ontario Progressive Conservative caucus of Premier Doug Ford until Jan. 15, when he was kicked out for writing a letter to the premier that called provincial pandemic lockdowns "deadlier than COVID."
Baber's private member's bill was denied by Government House Leader Paul Calandra in Ontario on Wednesday afternoon.
Then Calandra introduced a motion to cut Baber's pay, but Baber remained silent for fear or conflict of interest.
If Baber's private member's bill had passed, it would have seen MPP pay cut to $500 a week from $2,250 a week, based on the basic MPP pay in Ontario of $117,000 a year.
The basic MLA pay in BC is $111,000 a year, or around $2,130 a week.
Baber's bill suggested MPPs make the equivalent of CERB as a way of relating to regular people who have lost their jobs, taken pay cuts and seen their livelihoods disintegrate because of strict COVID lockdowns in Ontario.
BC's restrictions haven't been as harsh.
Barber's bill also recommended the MPP pay cut lasts until all emergency orders in Ontario are lifted, expect those relating to hospitals and long-term care homes.
Baber is also a fan of lifting the bulk of lockdowns immediately.
Baber's notice of the private member's bill on Twitter caused a bit of a sensation.
It received 2,800 likes, was retweeted 1,200 times and garnered 315 comments.
Comments ranged from praise, salutes, "good luck" and "in Roman we trust" to the odd scathing reaction.
One of those included: "When your bill is rejected, of course, you will volunteer to have your pay reduced. Thank you for this episode of political theatre."
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