Bob Zimmer, Member of Parliament for Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies, is donating his annual pay increase to a local church.
MPs receive a legislated annual pay increase today (April 1).
“The legislation giving members of parliament an annual pay increase was passed in 2005, well before I was a Member of Parliament. Since first being elected in 2011, I have never voted for a pay raise,” says Zimmer in a news release.
“It is up to the government to bring forward legislation to make changes to the annual increase should they do so when the House of Commons resumes sitting again,” says Zimmer, also noting the previous conservative government put in place an MP pay freeze during the recession in 2008.
“While individual Members of Parliament cannot stop the pay raise from going forward, we can decide what to do with the money we receive,” the Federal Conservative adds.
“I know people throughout the region are hurting right now which is why I am donating any increase I receive to a local church that is helping out our community during this difficult time. I will continue to support local charities as I always have.”
