TransLink pay scale raises eyebrows in B.C.

Directors of the Greater Vancouver transit authority have raised eyebrows by voting to award themselves a hefty pay package.

Behind closed doors and without issuing a press release, the TransLink board approved a wage scale that pays six times more than what the previous board was being paid to do similar work.

As a result, TransLink directors will be entitled to $1,200 per meeting.

Chairman Dale Parker will make $100,000 a year, an amount that is double what his predecessor earned.

News of the increases come after the B.C. Ministry of Transportation restructured the TransLink board last year, replacing elected directors with appointed ones.

Former B.C. Premier Mike Harcourt chaired the steering committee that recommended the new pay scale, described as "unprecedented" by New Democratic Party critic Maureen Karagianis.

She said the money is going to a group that is using taxpayers' dollars and is supposed to be working in the best interest of the taxpayer.

Other municipal officials said the pay scale will spark a public outcry.

"I think the public is going to be outraged,'' said Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan.

Delta Mayor Lois Jackson said she was disappointed to learn that the TransLink board had approved the pay increase.

"I don't know how they can justify those kinds of dollars,'' she said. "We are not in these positions to make money. We are in these positions to serve the public.''

But Harcourt took a different view, saying higher pay was needed to attract the type of people the committee wanted for the job.

"It was a big important role for the Lower Mainland and we wanted to attract some really good talent, which I think we did,'' he said.