New Brunswick’s premier and his cabinet ministers will see their paycheques go up in April.
A legislated wage freeze that has been in place will expire Thursday, according to a news release from the province.
When that happens, the salaries of MLAs, cabinet ministers, and the premier will revert back to what they were in 2015.
That was when the premier and ministers took pay cuts to help address the province’s financial situation.
“Our government has managed our finances responsibly, reduced our net debt, and has put our province in a position for ongoing and sustainable growth. This will allow us to remove the wage freeze on MLA and cabinet salaries,” said government house leader Glen Savoie.
When the wage freeze ends, the base pay for all MLAs will remain unchanged at $85,000.
The top-up for ministers will climb from $47,353 to $52,614, the premier will see a bump from $67,150 to $79,000, and ministers without portfolios will see their salary top-up adjusted from $35,550 to $39,500.
Overall, the premier will now make $164,000, cabinet ministers will earn $137,614, and ministers without portfolios will make $124,500.
According to Savoie, the adjustment brings New Brunswick’s MLA salaries in line with those of the other Atlantic provinces.
MLA and ministerial salaries are currently under review by the legislative administration committee.
A release from the province said wages have been frozen since 2008 as part of “various wage restraint measures.”
