EDITORIAL

Council pay hike: Honk if you’re happy

July 21, 2003

The next time you drive by Toronto City Hall, honk if you’re happy with Coun. Howard Moscoe’s scheme for a pay hike for city councillors.

Moscoe wants council to ask for an "independent review board" to rethink local politicians’ salaries.

The Ward 15 Eglinton-Lawrence councillor wants an ad hoc review panel comprised of members of the Board of Trade, the Toronto and York Region Labour Council, and the general public, to decide how councillors should be compensated starting in 2004.

"We’re due for a review of our salaries," said Moscoe, who, like his colleagues, collects the equivalent of $85,000 a year (not counting perks) from the public purse.

Given the calendar, Moscoe is not worried about the apathy-plagued November 10 municipal election: "What normally happens is the issue is so politicized it becomes a public debate no matter what. I’m suggesting we establish a panel to review the salary, but pass the bylaw beforehand and let them fill in the numbers. It’ll be like compulsory binding arbitration."

‘Like compulsory binding arbitration’ is not ‘compulsory binding arbitration,’ Coun. Moscoe.

Moscoe said he’d be willing to accept a lower salary if the panel recommended it, but he’s almost certain the recommendation would be the opposite.

The pay hike-grabbing councillor shouldn’t count on it.

"I’m confident that when they review the salaries of cities of comparable size, they can’t help but say we’re inadequately compensated."

When last checked, the City of Toronto council was one of the largest and best compensated on the continent.

Ward 7 Coun. Giorgio Mammoliti seconded Moscoe’s motion, a brave move considering that councillors who say nothing still get to cash in on any pay hikes.

The councillor’s ideas are not novel. Other councils have resorted to ad hoc review panels to take the heat off when they are after a pay increase.

Meanwhile, the silence from motorists passing by city hall is quite deafening.