THUNDER BAY -- A committee will be struck to decide whether the city's mayor and council should receive increases in remuneration.
A seven-member committee including two representatives of both the labour and business communities as well as civilian members will be tasked with making recommendations, which will apply to the council that will be elected in 2018.
It has been a decade since council pay has been assessed.
"By the time the work is done, it's not going to affect this council. It will affect the next council. It's not like it's self-serving. It's not like we're looking to give ourselves a raise," said Mayor Keith Hobbs as he introduced the resolution on Monday.
"I was looking at other mayors and councillors in other municipalities. We look like we're lagging behind -- not a great deal but somewhat -- and I think it's time we took a look at that."
Westfort Coun. Joe Virdiramo disagreed. He cited the last committee tasked with investigating council remuneration in 10 other communities in 2008, which found Thunder Bay elected officials to be paid higher than the median rate.
"We're not too badly off," he said. "I'm satisfied with the compensation. I won't be supporting a review because I think it's a waste of time."
According to figures released in March 2016, salaries and expenses for the mayor and 12 councillors cost the city a total $573,000, down from $618,000 in 2013. Hobbs collected a $92,000 salary in 2015 and claimed just under $9,000 in expenses while Current River Coun. Andrew Foulds was the lowest paid at $31,000. His expense account totalled only $360.
For Coun. Rebecca Johnson, compensation for public service is about ensuring more women can consider a career in elected office. She pointed out there has been little change in compensation for public service at the council level since the early 1990s.
"My concern is attracting candidates that are viable and are saying, 'I'm not putting 40 to 60 hours a week for the amount of money you get on this council. It's not worth it to me,'" Johnson said.
"If nothing else, for the women who are really trying to get onto council -- whether it's equal or more, I don't care -- but I certainly think we need to investigate it and if it's comparable to what's happening in other jurisdictions in the province."
Coun. Frank Pullia rejected the notion that council pay narrows the field, recalling between 44 and 50 candidates have stood for recent municipal elections. He said councillors make slightly above the city's median income and
"Many people want to enter politics. They don't look at the compensation," he said. "They do it because they want to serve their community."
Only Virdiramo and Pullia voted against striking a committee to investigate the issue.
Coun. Iain Angus cautioned his colleagues who supported the mayor's resolution not to waver under public resentment over increased wages or other benefits for elected officials if the committee concludes it's the right thing to do.
"Every time we've selected a citizen's committee to examine the remuneration for council and spent a lot of time doing the research, doing the comparisons, thinking of what is appropriate, they came forth with the recommendations, the council of the day ignored it because they were spooked by the negative comments from the community," Angus said.
"I think it is appropriate to try one more time to have an independent group do the review, bring forward the recommendations but I would challenge members of council -- particularly those who are planning on retiring at the end of this term -- to think about the future and not worry about the electors and make the appropriate decision for the future councils in this community."
