The Quebec National Assembly recently updated its website to announce a significant 7.5% salary increase for Members of the National Assembly (MNAs), equating to almost $10,000.
La Presse reported that the base salary for MNAs has been raised from $131,766 to $141,625, marking a $9,859 hike in compensation for this year. MNAs also receive additional allowances for their parliamentary roles, such as ministers, which will also see a 7.5% increase.
This salary adjustment comes as part of the changes brought forth by the Legault government in June 2023 to the Act regarding the employment conditions and pension plans of MNAs. Under this new legislation, MNAs received a substantial 30% increase in their base salary, along with a novel salary indexing system for the future.
Starting March 31, 2024, MNA salaries will be adjusted based on the salary increments of chief executive officers, vice-presidents, and level four government agency members, as stipulated in the updated law.
The National Assembly confirmed that the recent executive salary revisions on June 20 resulted in a $5,044 increase for 2024 and a $4,815 increase for 2025, cumulatively explaining the $9,859 boost in MNA compensation.
Premier François Legault’s total compensation has also risen from $270,120 to $290,331 as a result of these changes.
Furthermore, additional salary increases based on projected increments for 2026 and 2027 for agency heads have already been scheduled. By 2027, an MNA’s base salary is expected to climb to $153,191, representing a 51% increase over five years from the pre-2023 level of $101,561.
Despite its swift passage in the National Assembly without parliamentary committee consultations, the 2023 salary legislation received mixed political reactions. While the Quebec Liberal Party supported the bill, it faced opposition from the Parti Québécois (PQ) and Québec Solidaire. Notably, PQ MNAs have pledged to donate their raises to charitable organizations until the next general election in fall 2026, with four members already contributing nearly $80,000 to various community groups by the end of 2024.
