MLAs earn more than some teachers, nurses and police officers
Yet some Nunavut politicians ‘take a pay cut’ to move into public service, says former member Joe Savikataaq Sr.
All MLAs start with a base salary of $111,033 but receive significant pay bumps based on several factors including the work they do on committees and whether they are a cabinet minister. This makes MLAs some of the highest-paid workers in the territory. Seen here, members of Nunavut’s sixth legislative assembly pose for a group photo after taking office in November 2021 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. (File photo by Mélanie Ritchot)
Nunavummiut will mark their ballots Monday to elect a new batch of MLAs — all 22 of whom will become some of the highest-paid people in the territory.
Even at the low end of the range for Nunavut politicians, MLAs earn more than people working in several other professions in Nunavut.
The base pay rate for a Nunavut MLA is $111,033 a year, according to the 2023-24 Report on the Payment of Indemnities, Allowances, Benefits and Expenses from the legislative assembly. But the salary of many MLAs was likely higher due to several factors, including where they reside, their committee responsibilities and whether they’re a cabinet minister.
The highest-paid member of the assembly last year was Premier P.J. Akeeagok at $253,818, followed closely by deputy Premier Pamela Gross at $246,617, the report says.
Both cabinet members were responsible for multiple portfolios.
The lowest-paid MLA was Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet’s Alexander Sammurtok at $147,598.
By comparison, an RCMP police constable starts at $71,191 but within three years will be earning $115,350, according to an RCMP website on pay and benefits.
A public health nurse, according to a recent Government of Nunavut job posting, makes between $108,200 and $129,644. And depending on factors including experience and years of service, a Nunavut teacher’s salary can range from $69,659 to $131,151, according to the Nunavut Teachers’ Association’s collective agreement with the Government of Nunavut.
One former member of the legislature says MLA wages are “fair and appropriate.”
“I think I can speak for most MLAs … they are not doing it for the money or the pay cheque, they are doing it because they feel they can make a difference,” said Joe Savikataaq Sr., a former premier who represented the Arviat South riding for 12 years from 2013 to the end of the sixth legislative assembly, which dissolved ahead of the Oct. 27 election.
Savikataaq pointed out that, depending on what they did before getting elected, some people even take a pay cut if they become an MLA but aren’t named to cabinet.
A high-ranking territorial government official, for example, takes home an annual median salary of $195,208 per year, according to federal job bank data.
Joining cabinet comes with a “substantial jump in pay” above what a regular MLA is paid, Savikataaq noted. But it also comes with a lot more work and responsibilities. Cabinet members, he said, must move to Iqaluit, sacrificing time with their families.
In 2020-21, the last full fiscal year he was premier, Savikataaq was paid $231,323, that year’s payments report says.
MLAs also receive a pension from the legislative assembly after serving one four-year term in office. The amount the pension pays depends on how long the member served in the legislature.
Former MLAs start receiving their pensions at age 60, though Savikataaq said they can collect it earlier if they are willing to accept a reduced amount.
Members can also request a lump sum payment, instead of getting an ongoing pension amount. Though, Savikataaq noted, that means paying very high income taxes on the amount.
Savikataaq, who turns 65 in December, is expecting his pension to start soon — now that he is out of office. He would not say what his pension will be, but like current salaries he feels his pension plan is “appropriate.”
“I’ll just say that it’s good,” Savikataaq said. “As long as you don’t take it early before turning 60.”
Some nurses in Nunavut take home over $10,000 in a biweekly paycheck… after deductions. Do you want to do the math to figure out the gross pay and write about that, too?
What a rediculous comparison. Most nurses in nunavut are burnt out working around the clock 7 days a week on call sometimes 24 hours straight. Meanwhile some MLAs are getting kicked out of bars at night, missing an entire sitting, and still getting paid.
Meanwhile this whole article is comparison. The MLAS livr on Nunavut land, buy local and pay their own mortgage/rent in Nunavut not to mention nunavut rate food prices with their families so thats at least x 5 people . Yes nurses are good n needed but This whole article is comparing in the first place . Most nurses are contracted to nunavut and paid to work here basically and get allowances to stay longer. So maybe tone it down there should be no comparison of course you choose your profession so go do it your own way. Live how you want to live and keep it humble. Emd of story.
If you are authorized overtime sure but not too often and who wants to work that much. Any job would do the same.
There aren’t any nurses earning $10,000 take-home pay every two weeks. It’s not even possible.
The nurse would have to work nearly 80 hours every week.
It is possible, it does happen, every pay period, I’ve seen it. I will note that I didn’t say all nurses make that every two weeks, I said some nurses in a biweekly paycheck. You’re trying to calculate based on straight pay, but there’s also on-call pay and callback pay. And yes, these nurses are working huge, exhausting hours. I’m not trying to criticize the nurses, I’m just criticizing the article.
This article tries to “call out” MLA pay by saying they make more than other professions. First and foremost, MLAs have the responsibility for making laws that govern the Territory. I think that’s a pretty big responsibility to be compensated for. Second, MLAs do not make overtime pay. Two of the professions they “make more than” are nurses and RCMP officers, both of whom make huge sums in OT. I’m not criticizing these professions or what their income is, but to try to sow moral division in this article by saying MLAs “make more” than them is reckless.
Of course there have always been some useless MLAs making a nice paycheck for doing next-to-nothing, and we can criticize those MLAs individually.
this is why the MLA’s are seriously out of touch with the people of Nunavut.
don’t you have to be elected two terms to receive the full ride pension? one term wonders receive some, but not all.
how could someone on any type of financial assistance relate to this? our Deputy Premier made close to a quarter of a million dollars every year. how many meetings has she held in Cambridge Bay, public or meetings at the Hamlet Council? wow.
Well guess what? She showed up to work on time and made it to work, unlike most working people in Nunavut who use all their sick leave. lol “ I broke my back” oh really? So you’re calling in sick? “ Yeah it’s spinal “
Shes also one of the only MLAs with a University degree. Not only does she set a good example for other young Inuit—she works hard for her salary and deserves it.
No wonder Bobby wants to run again for Kugluktuk, Free money for him doing nothing!
Lets say an MLA does the bare minimum, doesn’t do any cabinet work, doesn’t go to his constituency office, & doesnt bother reaching out to constituents—in other words he only shows up to the 3 sittings… thats maybe 500 hours of “work” per year. If hes still making $147,000, that’s $300 an hour—private practice lawyer money!
Anyone making that kind of money as a PUBLIC SERVANT needs to be held accountable if theyre not fulfilling the duties of the role they got elected to do.
One of the problems with having an MLA represent such a tiny population is that often theyre elected based on their last name, rather than their qualifications. Please make your votes count. Vote based on merit, thats the only way our communities will move forward.
They travel to Iqaluit from their communities and are seen by nunavummiut to travel to Iqaluit. Are they like wow that’s from arviat or he’s inuk to see as mlas member.
Um, what’s that you say?
You mean teachers make a lot of money. Actually what group make the mega bucks in nunavut. It could help jobs get more inuit recruits
More incentive for you to run for MLA, not many will try but too many will complain and hold their hands out.
If you want to help and work to make positive changes then take this job on, you will find out very quickly it’s not a easy job and you will have all kinds of people complaining about you for all kinds of things, most unrelated to your job.
Way too many entitled people now a days.
This article serves no other purpose than to pit professionals against each other.
MLAs should be paid an appropriate amount to discourage corruption and encourage qualified candidates to run for office.
The article also seemingly picks professions for comparison out of thin air, not making any case as to why they’re comparable. Why not compare the wage of MLAs across Canada’s provinces and territories? RCMP officers aren’t even territorial employees but are federal employees.
It’s a general best practice in organizational structure to have people higher in the organization paid more than people working in lower hierarchy positions, of course decision makers and heads of organizations like Ministers will be paid more than others in that same organization. When your organization has lawyers, doctors and others high paid professionals, the wages for Ministers that are accountable for those positions will need to be paid a large amount of money.
What bizzare comparisons!
Teachers, responsible for our younge generations make a fraction of the wage MLAs make.
Nurses, who are responsible for taking care of us and our children, make a fraction of this wage.
RCMP risk their lives going to so many gun and weapon calls and make a fraction of the wage MLAs make.
What about comparing GN workers too?
Or court clerks
Something more relatable to MLAs work here in Nunavut.
What a joke! I didn’t know they made big bucks …for what?!
MLA’s are not paid enough for those that are interactive and communicate as accessible. Many outlets. venting and sudden development and enhancement of Counselling, Therapy, Soundboard, Demands of constant time and energy unheard of but only understood by Mental Health Counsellors and Emergency Services as Policing own.
These are the unheard of constant barrage of expectations. These expectations and demands are relentless from broken and waning hopes and plight of the common Inuk in the conditions and statehood leave so very many frustrated and throw in uninformed and uneducated with no social skills and high demands as constant need for Saving and Access to Services is unending every day, each day and weekly, monthly and annually with no exaggeration 24/7, 365 and everything else not listed or known as Deaths, Crises, Constant Advocacy at all hours, the forever backlashes of what and who you are and do is monitored and assessed and constant measuring stick by any and all community members.
Unsaid demands and expectations are 24/7 and 365 as guilt trips, manipulation, distain, malice, gossip, rumours, jealousy, envy, slander, hate, deceptions, misguided anger exposure and any and all Money Currency Value and your Personal Life as well as your own kids and immediate family are exposed and bullied and singled out, and everything even your oxygen intake is thought to be owned because your Title is owned by the People so all keep at you and it is endless.
Well for those rare MLA’s that interact with the locals at their levels in their homes when invited and asked to stay so truly involved as community is vile and wicked politics so common unrepresented are truly intelligent and rational and exercise by choice decency but not represented require your true time and space to advocate. It’s stressful.
Then throw in the Yahoo’s mentioned above and the real impacts of real local politics is vile, wicked, toxic and dysfunctional. Well it is for those informed and aware unlike some small towns Politics not yet grounded or interactive and think the Title alone grants superiority status without a plan or contributions because so regulated that no other further developments but the good ol’ what your last name is still holds the crown culture and mentality but genuine interactions at a real local level not documented or acknowledged because you care and it is not about the money but you realize everything is sucking your soul and existence and energy and time and your own life and personal loved ones as family are relentlessly targeted as innocent victims out of malice is included 24/7 and 365
The truly empathic MLA’s get misused and misrepresented and always used.
MLA’s being paid in the Ballpark Figure is acceptable to other Service Providers equally. For those who never ever held high positions and are truly clueless of what is required and what cost you give many will rethink about all the Bells and Whistles attached to a Title is not worth it. At least for balanced and aware and informed. All the ones being negative are exactly whats wrong with Nunavut is all talk and pot shots without ever contributing or offering any support as contributions to advance with your knowledge and vigor to be a voice of reason speaks for itself. See!
Anybody in their right mind or aware or informed or has head out of A*ses wouldn’t Run for Office and those who throw shade are cowardly to step up as evident no confidence or abilities but their mouths and fingers are powerful voices online but lack substance or no contributions these are exactly who are dealt with 24/7, 365 and now add online keyboard Hunters with no Game and righteous attitudes do Sweet F*ck All to add to development or advancement.
See the pattern? Just read the comments for example. That’s just one article. Add Four (4) Years of this….
You all are clueless, uniformed, unaware, uninformed and why your representations in these forums are proof that speak for selves is evidence and truth. Heh heh. I hope you are running in the next elections because being a public target is touch free and you are so protected you see job certainty but there’s benefits you envy and can get for yourself since its so easy to be overpaid. Heh heh
No wonder Education and Health Ministers went full out on their campaign, each are worth a million dollars!
As for Hudson Bay, sorry no one else ran but we’ll see how long that will last.
“I think I can speak for most MLAs … they are not doing it for the money or the pay cheque, they are doing it because they feel they can make a difference,” said Joe Savikataaq Sr., a former premier who represented the Arviat South riding for 12 years from 2013 to the end of the sixth legislative assembly, which dissolved ahead of the Oct. 27 election.
If he is not doing it for the money, what about all the MLA take a pay cut and use the fund for something more useful?
These people are highly paid. Considering how little work they do. And how inept they all are. Millions of tax dollars wasted on such poor talent.
Public constantly accusing MLA’s of not doing anything when in fact MLA’s work almost 24 hrs a day assistanting their constituents. Listening to their constituents complaints, assisting constituents who got kicked out of the boarding home or missed their flight, being yelled at, making sure the Government is offering help to our communities during trauma/hardship, looking for ways to help our community, visiting offices and employees, etc. Nunavumiut who have never experienced being MLA always accuse MLA’s of never doing anything! You can or won’t even run for the position and yet all you do is complain. Try putting your foot in their foot.