City councillors in Fort McMurray, Alta., have approved a motion to more than double some of their salaries, and three could become some of the highest paid councillors in Canada.
The pay hike is drawing harsh criticism from constituents, many of whom lost their homes and jobs to the wildfires that devastated the region last month.
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo councillors voted 7-4 in favour of the measure to boost their compensation. Those in favour say the move is justified because councillors expect to put in additional hours to co-ordinate rebuilding efforts.
鈥淭his is kind of outrageous right now,鈥� said Chad Remillard. His family has been living at a local camp ground since fleeing their home in early May.
Seven part-time councillors currently earning $36,000 per year will see their pay rise to $75,000. Councillors Allan Vinni, Keith McGrath, and Sheldon Germain -- all part of a newly minted relief committee -- will now work full-time. Their pay will rise to $150,000 per year. That鈥檚 believed to be the highest base salary for any councillor in Canada.
The new salaries will be in effect until Dec. 31, 2017.
Mayor Melissa Blake voted against the round of raises. She says the move will cause 鈥渁nxiety and consternation鈥� in a community still reeling from the costliest natural disaster in Canadian history.
鈥淭his council ran, and we didn鈥檛 expect a wild fire, but 鈥� we knew what our commitments were intended to be,鈥� she said. Blake鈥檚 salary jumped to $150,000, but she is refusing to accept the extra money.
Councillor Jane Stroud voted against the motion as well; she echoed Blake鈥檚 view that extra work doesn鈥檛 justify the hefty pay hikes.
鈥淚 think we need to stay our course and accept the responsibility of the extra work load,鈥� she said.
The Alberta wildfire forced the evacuation of more than 94,000 residents. Roughly 2,400 buildings were damaged or destroyed. Rebuilding efforts could continue into 2019, according to the Conference Board of Canada.
鈥淭he money should be put towards the fire fighters, the brave men and women who actually fought to save our city,鈥� said Remillard.
With a report from CTV Edmonton
