Wage freeze ordered for Sask. cabinet ministers

CBC News | Posted: February 6, 2015 4:02 PM | Last Updated: February 6, 2015

Senior managers will fall under the freeze, too

Image | Brad Wall announced wage freeze

Caption: Premier Brad Wall has ordered a wage freeze on cabinet ministers and senior government officials. It's intended to shave $15 million from government spending. (Dean Gutheil/CBC)

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A wage freeze is being implemented for Saskatchewan government ministers and senior officials.

Premier Brad Wall said the freeze will apply to Crown corporation executives as well.

Who's covered in wage freeze?

premier and cabinet ministers.
senior managers and out-of-scope (non-unionized) executive government employees.
senior managers and out-of-scope Crown corporation employees.
out-of-scope health region employees.

It's designed to trim $15 million from government spending.

Earlier this week, Wall said a drop in oil and gas revenues could cost the province $600 million to $800 million.

Wall said he will be asking MLAs, school divisions and post-secondary institutions to apply the same wage freeze policy.

Currently, cabinet and MLA salaries are tied to inflation. Without the freeze, Wall and his cabinet would have received a 2.4 per cent increase, effective April 1.

How much do Saskatchewan politicians make?

Members of the Saskatchewan legislature receive a base salary and then a top-up if they are in cabinet or have other duties. Here are the main ones:

regular MLA: $94,668
premier: $163,200 (includes $68,852 top-up).
deputy premier: $149,751 (includes $55,083 top-up).
speaker: $142,866 (includes $48,198 top-up).
minister: $142,866 (includes $48,198 top-up).
leader of the opposition: $142,866 (includes $48,198 top-up).

The CBC's Dean Gutheil was tweeting live from the Legislative Building on Friday morning.

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On mobile? Check out Dean Gutheil's tweets from the Legislature here.