N.S. to review pay package for politicians [Video]

HALIFAX –

A panel of senior Nova Scotia government bureaucrats will examine the pay packages for members of the legislature, which have not increased since before they were frozen nearly a decade ago.

The independent panel will review such things as salaries, benefits, pensions, travel and constituency allowances, said house Speaker Danielle Barkhouse in a news release issued late Wednesday.

Panel members include Tracey Taweel, the premier’s executive deputy minister; Kelliann Dean, deputy finance minister; and deputy justice minister Jennifer Glennie. As well, Deloitte Canada has been hired to prepare a report on remuneration for legislature members.

Barkhouse said the deputy ministers have the combined experience to carry out their task, adding that she has “the utmost respect for their independence and their unimpeachable non-partisanship.”

Former Liberal premier Stephen McNeil imposed a freeze on politicians’ pay, office budgets and living expenses in 2015. Since then, base salaries have remained at $89,235, although …