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MLA salaries public Jeanne Gagnon Northern News Services Published Monday, October 31, 2011
The GN recently released the salaries, indemnities, allowances and expenses members of the legislative assembly of Nunavut received up to March 31, 2011. MLAs receive a base salary in the range of $84,204 to $90,396, with additional pay for committee members, cabinet ministers, the speaker, premier and deputy premier. On top of that, there are Northern and housing allowances. Taptuna, who represents Kugluktuk and is the deputy premier, is the highest-paid MLA with salary and allowances totalling $193,936, followed by Iqaluit East MLA. Aanik, with $193,499 and Uqqummiut MLA James Arreak at $188,383. With travel expenses, temporary housing and MLA indemnities, Taptuna cost the taxpayer $287,735. Taptuna attributes some of this payout to the fact he is from Nunavut's westernmost community. "To get back and forth, I have to go through Rankin (Inlet), Yellowknife, overnight in Yellowknife and then on up. So it's a costly expense," he said. Second place, in terms of total costs, is Rankin Inlet South-Whale Cove MLA Lorne Kusugak at $276,456. His temporary accommodation in Iqaluit is costing taxpayers $64,817. He said that's because he moved his family to the territorial capital. "Someone is going to end up with the most. I realize it's high, but to rent a house in Iqaluit - I'm here with my family - that's how much it costs," he said. "It's just a bungalow; it's not a mansion. It's just a house and that's the cost of housing in Iqaluit." Constituency budgets range from $20,000 to $57,800, depending on the riding; the same as last year. Quttiktuq MLA Ron Elliott, whose riding includes the High Arctic communities of Resolute, Grise Fiord and Arctic Bay, spent $47,603 out of his $51,000 constituency budget. "I have three communities and representing them, sometimes there is a high cost of transportation to the different communities," he said. "What I try to do is use my budget as wisely as I can, trying to piggy-back on different things, doing more than one activity at once and getting out there." He added he was the only MLA doing an annual newsletter, which involves preparation and distribution costs. Akulliq MLA John Ningark, representing Kugaaruk and Repulse Bay, spent the most constituency money with $53,565 out of his budget of $57,800, which is the highest constituency budget in the legislative assembly. As for absenteeism, the documents show Kusugak missed four days while the legislative assembly was in session between April 1 and June 30. His sister-in-law passed away this spring. "I was down there (Winnipeg) to help my brother out deal with the passing of his wife, making sure he had help and support in dealing with all those issues," he said. "My brother needed my help and I will not apologize for that." No other MLA missed a session day during that period except Amittuq MLA Louis Tapardjuk, who missed one day. Payments to MLAs Total pay
Reimbursements for home travel expenses, rounded to nearest dollar (cabinet)
Note: Eva Aariak and Hunter Tootoo are not eligible as their constituencies are in Iqaluit. Temporary accommodation in Iqaluit, rounded to nearest dollar (cabinet)
Note: Eva Aariak and Hunter Tootoo are not eligible as their constituencies are in Iqaluit.
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