A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the city-created pothole in front of the Free Press.
I now stand corrected.
City crews were out shortly after my column appeared, fixing up the hole.
And it looks like they did a good job.
Their fix-up, of course, had nothing to do with my column … did it?
Of course not, it was scheduled to be fixed. Coincidence, obviously.
But, in case it wasn’t coincidence, there are several potholes on the street leading to my house and, if the city accidently turned its paver around in my driveway (leaving some asphalt behind), that extravagant spending by the city may be overlooked, just this once though.
Ah, the power of the press … sure.
• • •
Talk about the 29 per cent pay raise has dissipated somewhat, much to the liking of our politicos who would like the issue to go away.
There has been lots of talk about it, but how much do our MLAs really make?
According to the province’s Public Accounts for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2006, John Rustad was the lowest paid of our local MLAs.
That’s understandable as he is not a cabinet minister.
He was paid $73,439 plus $1,693 for being a committee chair for a grand total of $75,132.
Agriculture Minister Pat Bell was paid $74,097 for being an MLA.
However, as a cabinet minister he gets paid a little bit more.
He received $33,372 for being minister, plus a Capital City Allowance (for having to do business in Victoria while residing in Prince George) of $14,639.
He also received $68,730 in travel expenses. That brings his compensation to $190,838.
Deputy Premier and Education Minister Shirley Bond was also paid $74,097 for her role as an MLA.
She was paid $38,867 for being a minister.
She received a Capital City Allowance of $16,576, and $42,416 in travel for a total of $171,956.
More grist for the mill, with a couple of caveats.
The 29 per cent raise is on the salary only, not the travel or Capital City Allowance portion of their pay.
And, while the travel expenses may seem high, remember that MLAs in the north have the farthest to go and do the most traveling.
• • •
For those who may have been wondering, the federal Conservative government is no more, even the Government of Canada has disappeared.
Official correspondence from Ottawa now refers to itself as ‘Canada’s New Government.’ Good thing, we were getting them confused with the Liberals.
Just one question – how long is a government ‘new?’ If the Conservatives win a majority next time and the next time after that will they start referring to themselves as Canada’s Old Government?
Just asking.