Christy Clark has found a convenient distraction in municipal governments. B.C.’s Wiarton Willie of the recently ended teachers’ strike emerged last week to make headlines with her speech to delegates at this year’s Union of BC Municipalities convention, using her time as an opportunity to turn the spotlight on municipal government wages.
“Some local governments are paying more than the province for people to do similar jobs. And in those cases, compensation levels are simply too high,” stated Clark. She later told Black Press it was her intent to get this issue on the agenda for the November municipal election.
Is it really the premier’s duty to decide what the focus of voters should be in their respective municipal elections?
The provincially funded report notes the salaries of municipal employees increased by 38 per cent between 2001 and 2012. Interestingly, another report, released by the Columbia Institute notes local governments have had to make up for about $4 billion in reduced transfer payments from provincial and federal governments,
“finding themselves picking up the slack on housing, mental health, addiction, social services, wastewater treatment, diking, flood management, drinking water and recreation infrastructure.”
Maybe the local government pay bubble needs to be popped, and/or maybe they’re just doing a lot more work while their provincial counterparts do less and make their leader look fiscally responsible come election time.