WINNIPEG – Mayor Brian Bowman has vowed to cut city councillor perks and their pay.
“We are very well compensated, by most Winnipeg standards: we are paid very well,” said Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman.
Mayor Bowman admitted being on city council is a sweet gig, a little too sweet. So on Wednesday, he presented a motion to cut councillor severance packages and ward expenses.
But not all councillors agree with the cuts. “Severance helps you get re-established back into the private sector, back into employment, I might even have to use it for myself,” said Ross Eadie, Mynarski Councillor.
The proposed changes also reduce top ups given to committee chairs and members of the Executive Policy Committee (EPC). But some councillors say it’s an unfair advantage.
“I think all councillors should be paid the same,” said John Orlikow, River Heights Councillor.
They aren’t. Currently anyone on EPC gets an extra $30,000 on top of their annual $85,000 salary.
“I don’t like this two-tier model, so I felt this is one step towards and I’d like to take another step that we all get paid the same,” said Orlikow.
The mayor also wants to eliminate council freebies, freebies passed on to the taxpayer.
“So if I would like to take one of the councillors out for lunch, we can do that, we just can’t bill the taxpayer for that, and I think that’s reasonable. Professional sporting tickets, events, and concert tickets as well,” said Bowman.
Mayor Bowman vowed he will not be taking a severance when he leaves office and will be cutting his own salary by about $12,000.
The motion passed EPC Wednesday and will now be presented to council.
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