New Brunswick Conservative MP says he’s refusing 'distasteful' $8K pay raise
A New Brunswick MP says he’s asked the House of Commons to freeze his salary before parliamentarians are set to get an annual pay raise in April.
Mike Dawson, the Conservative representing Miramichi—Grand Lake says “at a time when everyday Canadians are struggling to keep up with rising cost of living” he cannot in good conscience accept a wage increase.
It’s a move that Dawson is doing, so far, on his own.
In a letter provided to National Post, Dawson has asked the clerk of the House of Commons to “make the necessary arrangements with the payroll and benefits administration to ensure that this is done.”
“It is frankly distasteful that Parliamentarians are set to receive a raise while the working man and woman in this country hasn’t seen a decent raise in decades,” reads the letter.
Members of Parliament are set to receive a 4.2 per cent raise on April 1. They currently make a base salary of $209,800.
That equates to a $8,811 jump.
It’s a legislated increase that’s indexed to wage settlements in the private sector, according to the House of Commons.
That said, it’s even more for some MPs as there are additional payouts, depending on a politician’s role.
A committee chair’s salary, for example, is currently $223,900, while a cabinet minister is paid $309,700.
The prime minister draws a current salary of $419,600.
It means the scheduled raise for Prime Minister Mark Carney will add $17,623 to his paycheque.
Dawson is a first-time federal MP after stepping away from provincial politics last spring to run in the 2025 federal election.
He’s a career drywaller and painter.
The eldest of four children, Dawson grew up in Chelmsford, just south of Miramichi.
His father, Mike Dawson Sr., passed away when he was in Grade 10, and he dropped out of school to go to work, eventually starting his own business.
In a note on his Facebook page Tuesday afternoon, he acknowledged that humble path that eventually led him into politics.
“I hope that for those who know me, you know that I did not get into politics for the money,” Dawson wrote. “I am fortunate to have started my own business early in life, which has turned out to be successful.
“After working hard as an entrepreneur for many years, and now that my sons are old enough to manage it while I am mostly absent, I turned to politics as a way to build upon my family’s deep roots in our community, and to as a way contribute to my community.”
He added that when going door to door ahead of the last federal election he didn’t hear from one person that MPs needed a raise.
“In these challenging times, when affordability and the rising cost of living are front of mind for all my constituents – and because it was never addressed on your doorstep when I sought your vote – an increase in my pay from your tax dollars is not something I can accept at this time,” Dawson concluded.
Last week, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation called on all MPs to end automatic pay raises entirely.
In a statement on Tuesday, federation director Franco Terrazzano applauded Dawson’s move.
“Dawson is showing real leadership and proving he is a true champion for taxpayers by turning down the upcoming MP pay raise,” Terrazzano said. “It takes courage to stand alone and do the right thing and Dawson is showing real guts to turn down this pay raise.
“Here’s something Dawson needs to remember: He may be alone on this issue in the House of Commons, but thousands and thousands of taxpayers across Canada are standing with him.”
National Post
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