City Pay based on ‘unbiased policy’

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Mayor Patrick Johnstone noted that council was voting to receive a report on remuneration for information purposes only, and not to approve the remuneration as that’s something determined according to the city policy.

“The point of this policy was to actually separate elected people, as much as possible, from having to make decisions on the fly on their own pay raise every year,” he said.

Fontaine said he’s spoken to elected officials in some cities who follow a similar process, but the reports on council remuneration aren’t presented to council.

“They don’t even come in for information,” he said “It’s automatically done.”

Coun Tasha Henderson quoted a post Fontaine wrote for the City Caucus blog in February 2009 in which he stated “there’s never a good time to give a politician a raise” and he expressed concern that “lowballing” the compensation eliminates the option for some people to serve on city council She said Fontaine’s blog post was written at a time when there was a “very challenging” economic climate

“People were really, really struggling, not unlike where we are today,” she said “So I would just say that I agree with the points that he’s laid out here in

FOR SALE! NOW OFFERED AT $1,299,900 916 HENLEY ST, NEW WESTMINSTER this blog And while it’s not easy, and it’s not popular, I think it is helpful for us to follow clear unbiased policy around wage increases and have it tied to inflation, like other cities do, and not subject to the politics of the day”

In a 5-2 vote, council received the report on 2023 council remuneration

The vote was split on party lines, with Community First council members Johnstone, Henderson, Ruby Campbell, Jaimie McEvoy and Nadine Nakagawa voting in favour of receiving the report for information and NewWest Progressive councillors Fontaine and Paul Minhas voting against receiving the report.