Calgary mayor, city council criticized for 2.41% raise to start 2024
Calgary’s mayor and city council are getting an automatic 2.41 per cent wage increase this year.
Amid higher fuel taxes, soaring utility prices, costly groceries and a spike in property taxes for many Calgarians, some are arguing that council should not have received the raise.
“This is something they knew was coming, they also knew that Albertans are really struggling with affordability and there are increased costs that have hit them,” Lori Williams, a public policy professor at Mount Royal University, said.
A few years ago, the city council at the time put the wage increase decision into the hands of an independent committee, which takes Albertan’s average weekly earnings into account.
“It’s a result of that committee’s work back in 2020 that this increase is being proposed,” Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek said.
The mayor’s new salary is $213,000, while city councillors will make $120,000.
In November, city council approved a 7.8 per cent residential property tax increase. That increase is one reason why former Calgary alderman John Schmal sent a letter in December asking for council to call off the automatic raise.
“It’s very irresponsible. They keep increasing the cost of living to live in a home. They should not be getting an increase based on their performance,” Schmal said.
This year marks the third straight year of increases for the mayor and council, and follows three straight years where the previous mayor and council decided not to take raises.
“It is symbolic because every dollar they earn comes from taxpayers,” Williams said.
Some councillors are split on the raise.
“When compared to our peers at the provincial and federal levels based on population represented and workloads, I believe our compensation is fair,” Ward 11 Coun. Kourtney Penner said in a statement.
Ward 13 Coun. Dan McLean disagrees with the increase after delivering another tough budget.
“Three tax hikes, three pay raises, so I believe that a council that keeps raising taxes probably doesn’t deserve a pay raise,” McLean said.
Gondek said it’s not too late to make changes if that’s what council decides.
“I’m absolutely open to doing something different but I want to hear from my colleagues. I also think it’s really important to hear from the members of that committee,” Gondek said.
Council meets for the first time this year on Jan. 16, where this issue is expected to come up.
The mayor said she has contacted council to get their perspective and wants to make sure members of the public know the details as well.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
LIVE UPDATES Critical infrastructure 'successfully protected': Jasper park officials
Jasper National Park officials in an update said all critical infrastructure in the townsite has been 'successfully protected, including the hospital, emergency services building, both elementary and junior/senior schools, activity centre and wastewater treatment plant.'
Canadian Olympic Committee removes women's soccer team's head coach over drone scandal
The Canadian Olympic Committee has removed women's national soccer team head coach Bev Priestman over a drone scandal, according to a press release from the organization.
Yukon woman narrowly escapes bear attack, credits hair clip
A woman in Yukon believes her hair clip helped save her during a bear attack.
Prince William's 2023 salary revealed in new report
Newly released financial reports show that William, the Prince of Wales, drew a salary of $42.1 million last fiscal year, his first since inheriting the vast and lucrative Duchy of Cornwall.
'I was just shocked': Jasper lodge owner on seeing property destroyed by wildfire
On Wednesday night, the owner of Maligne Lodge in Jasper, Alta., was shocked to receive a photo of her business engulfed in flames.
Mary-Ellen Turpel-Lafond likely has Indigenous DNA: report
The Law Society of British Columbia says a DNA test shows a former judge and Order of Canada recipient accused of falsely claiming to be Cree "most likely" has Indigenous heritage.
U.S. authorities have arrested 'El Mayo' Zambada, a historic leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel
Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, a historic leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a son of another infamous cartel leader, were arrested by U.S. authorities in Texas on Thursday, the U.S. Justice Department said.
Harris pushes Netanyahu to ease suffering in Gaza: 'I will not be silent'
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday to help reach a Gaza ceasefire deal that would ease the suffering of Palestinian civilians, striking a tougher tone than President Joe Biden.
'She led it the whole way': 18-year-old B.C. woman leads hikers to safety in Jasper National Park
As fire threatened people in Jasper National Park, Colleen Knull sprung into action.