A new Leger poll commissioned by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) shows that 79% of Canadians oppose the upcoming pay raises for Members of Parliament (MP) scheduled for April 1.
The poll revealed nearly 60% of respondents stating they "strongly oppose" the salary increases.
Only three percent of Canadians surveyed expressed strong support for boosting MP compensation.
"The vast majority of Canadians don't think MPs deserve a raise," said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of CTF.
"It seems like the only Canadians who strongly support an MP pay raise are the politicians themselves."
Currently, backbench MPs earn $203,100 per year, while ministers receive $299,900, and the prime minister gets $406,200.
The CTF estimates this year's increases will add approximately $6,700 to backbench MP salaries, $9,800 for ministers, and $13,400 for the prime minister.
MP salaries increase automatically each year based on average union contract increases at large corporations with over 500 employees.
After the upcoming adjustment, a backbench MP will earn about $209,800 annually.
Terrazzano questioned the timing of the increases.
”Do MPs really want to pad their pockets with higher pay as they head into an election?” said Terrazzano.
“After a pandemic, tax hikes, a cost-of-living crisis, and now a painful tariff war, there's no way MPs should be taking more money from their constituents. If politicians want to be true champions for taxpayers, they must push to stop this MP pay raise.”
The federal government has previously paused automatic MP pay increases from 2010 to 2013.
