P.E.I. MLAs may get salary increase

P.E.I. MLAs could soon be getting a raise.

The Indemnities and Allowances Commission has released a report that looks at the salaries of Island politicians.

It said there will be a two per cent increase in salaries for the fiscal year starting on April 1.

The commission is an independent group. Its members looked at the consumer price index, bargaining agreements and at the salaries of elected officials in other provinces.

The report is binding unless legislation is brought in, rejecting the increase.

The last time that was done was in 2010 when MLAs passed a bill that froze their salaries until April 1 of this year.

MLAs make just over $65,000 per year and the premier makes just over $136,000. Their last pay raise was in 2009 and they are the lowest paid in the country.

Opposition Leader Olive Crane told CBC News that she supports the increase. She currently makes $111,000 annually.

"I always do things based on my own constituency and for them in particular they're always amazed at how many hours I actually put in. I have high expectations on our MLAs on our side of the house," Crane said.

Premier Robert Ghiz is away and no one from his office was available for comment. The first regular sitting of Legislature is April 10.