Troy Media – By Janet Keeping and Heather MacIntosh
Continuing a long-standing tradition, members of the Alberta Legislature voted themselves huge pay-raises after the March, 2008, elections. Albertans are still understandably furious over this issue. Unlike other provinces — which over the last decade have been struggling to find an ethically better method of setting law-makers’ pay — Alberta politicians continue to determine their own salaries and other compensation without regard to outside scrutiny.
Self-serving process “under review”
Responding to public criticism, Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach has said this self-serving process is “under review.” Cynically, we believe, the “review” has been handed to an Alberta MLA, and not just any MLA, but Ken Kowalski, a 30-year veteran politician who has voted against rollbacks. The Calgary Herald called him “an outspoken advocate of handsomely rewarding MLAs.“
What is needed is a fresh evaluation from outside the Legislature, not casual scrutiny by a career MLA. The point is not whether Mr. Kowalski is competent or inclined to make an objective review of the compensation system. The fact that he personally stands to gain or lose by a review justifiably calls into question whether he would give the matter objective consideration. In public life we are concerned not only about bias but also about the appearance of bias.
When questioned about the salary review, Mr. Kowalski is quoted as having said “there is nothing to talk about.” This is unacceptable. The Speaker’s cavalier approach to public concerns about conflict of interest in the process of setting compensation indicates an ethical problem. It begs the questions: How is the public interest served by an internal review? Where is the fiscal responsibility?
Serving the public is a high calling. But politics won’t regain its nobility until people can see that politicians are indeed serving the public interest, not their own personal ends. The compensation issue brings this all into sharp focus.
Democracy threatened
It is abundantly clear that cynicism about politics is steadily eating away at the foundation of our democracy. Cynicism leads to alienation from the system, which manifests itself in concrete results such as the low voter turnout we have witnessed recently. With fewer people voting, governments feel free to become even more unresponsive, which in turn fuels greater cynicism — and round we go in a downward spiral.
This pattern must be reversed.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation suggests that a citizens’ assembly carry out the review. Ontario and New Brunswick have asked their Ethics Commissioners to undertake a review of how compensation is set but have faced public criticism because these officials have their own compensation and budgets set by their legislatures so cannot be seen as truly independent of the politicians. Other provinces such as Nova Scotia and Manitoba have introduced independent commissions either to make recommendations – still problematic as MLAs vote on the final changes – or to impose compensation changes without political interference. Several provinces seek public input during the review.
Government exists to serve the people – that is the cornerstone of democracy. But because power tends to corrupt there must be checks in place to ensure that government is indeed serving the people. Allowing politicians to set their own compensation levels undermines democracy.
Whatever the solution settled upon, the issue must be handled properly. Failure to do so is deeply unethical. Albertans must demand better of their government: politicians’ salaries cannot be set by the politicians themselves. It is the only ethical solution.
Janet Keeping, President, and Heather MacIntosh, Program Director, Democratic Development and Human Rights, Sheldon Chumir Foundation for Ethics in Leadership, Calgary.
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