THE Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) expressed dismay over the move by Metro Vancouver board members to vote themselves a pay raise and a retirement bonus retroactive to 2007.

“This is a slap in the face to taxpayers and voters in the Metro Vancouver region,” said Kris Sims, BC Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “For these mayors and councillors to vote themselves a pay raise and a retirement bonus at a time when many won’t be running for re-election and facing the voters this fall is both unaccountable and unacceptable.”

The move means that, on average, the members of the board will get $15,000 when they leave office, over and above what they are already paid for their regular elected duties and on top of what they are paid to sit on the Metro Vancouver Board.

“These council members and mayors are already paid a salary for the roles they were elected for in local government, the Metro Vancouver board is an extra panel that is over and above their regular civic role, and every dollar of that is taxpayers’ money,” Sims added. “This is the opposite of accountability and transparency, and it’s no wonder people are fed up.”

For example, Metro Vancouver Board chair, Greg Moore, is paid $77,474 per year. That’s on top of his salary and benefits of $106,283 working as Mayor of Port Coquitlam. The total for being Board Chair and Mayor is $290,040 per year. Metro Vancouver Board and Committee members are paid $775 per meeting of more than four hours, and $387 for meetings that run under four hours.

The pay hike and retirement bonus is found on page 409 of a 416 page meeting agenda posted online HERE. The Metro Vancouver clerk’s office says there is no written record of members voting ‘Yay’ or ‘Nay’ on the pay hike and retirement bonus, and people must scroll through a recorded video and count hands that are raised in the air to see how their elected representatives voted.

To find the names of of Metro Vancouver Board members click HERE.