Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services
Iqaluit (Jun 11/01) - Many people believe that politicians live in the lap of luxury.
But, as the dust settles in Canada's newest territory and paycheque blends into paycheque, the real top dogs on the government pay scale are the senior bureaucrats that Nunavut's MLAs oversee.
For example, in 1999-2000 Health Minister Ed Picco earned $110,372. The pay scale for his deputy minister lies between $105,000-$150,000.
That means Picco's subordinate could earn as much as 50 per cent more than he does.
Furthermore, if Picco's assistant deputy minister was experienced and had worked in the department for some time, the employee could bring home $109,000 -- just $1,372 less than Health's head honcho. Even the senior director earns nearly as much as Picco, raking in somewhere between $75,000 - $101,000.
Ken MacRury, the secretary to the personnel secretariat -- the committee that negotiates salaries and contracts for deputy ministers -- said several factors determined the rate of pay of deputy ministers.
"Where they've come from in terms of their experience, what they bring to the job and what potential they have to do other jobs," said MacRury.
"The other big piece is the actual department they're going into," he said.
More specifically, deputies running large departments like health and education are at the high end of the pay scale.
"If you have more money and more people, it tends to make the job more complex. For example, education is a big department, health is a big department.
"They're complex from a legislative and regulatory perspective," said MacRury. While the jobs and salaries of the bureaucrats are constantly being reviewed and evaluated, there is no movement under way to increase the money earned by the elected leaders.
MLAs currently earn $55,403 before money for other paid duties is tacked on and ministers bring home $100,886. "There's been nothing on the table," said John Quirke, the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly.
Quirke said the salaries were part of the legislation inherited from the Government of the Northwest Territories following division. The MLAs in the Western Arctic have since amended the laws and given themselves substantial pay hikes, but despite the higher cost of living in Nunavut, there isn't any legislation in development to raise the MLA's wages.
"We inherited this from the GNWT. Since division, (MLAs in the west) have gone to a higher salary range for members," said Quirke.
Even the annual salary of the territory's highest paid politician -- Premier Paul Okalik -- falls far lower than what his deputy minister likely earns. Also the MLA for Iqaluit West, Okalik brought home $115,459 last year.
