EDMONTON — Federal Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi defended his decision to accept more than $46,150 in transition compensation.
Sohi addressed the issue Monday, shortly after casting a vote in the advance polls in the city’s Ward 12 byelection – the race that will select his replacement on Edmonton city council.
Sohi said he did not receive a salary from the City of Edmonton during the 11 weeks he spent running in the federal election last fall, but said he was still working as a councillor during that time period.
“During the election campaign I took 11 weeks off without pay and I paid for my own benefits. It didn’t cost the city anything during those 11 weeks and I was still performing my responsibilities to the best of my ability as a council member,” Sohi said, adding decisions about transition allowances are made by a citizens’ group, not politicians.
Sohi’s statement came after he received some heat last week when news of him accepting the transition compensation surfaced. His former fellow councillor Michael Oshry took to Twitter to voice his opinion on the matter, saying it was not appropriate .
READ MORE: Minister accepted $46K severance package from Edmonton city hall
Edmonton’s current city clerk said last week what Sohi would have been entitled to as a sitting councillor was a form of transitional allowance. In 2006, the Council Compensation Committee recommended transition allowances be increased from two weeks of salary per year of service to three weeks.
“In councillor Sohi’s case, he’s served the City of Edmonton for eight years,” Linda Sahli, city clerk for the City of Edmonton said.
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