Conservative MP sets good example that his colleagues should follow

Mike Dawson wants to do the right and responsible thing, but he has been publicly bullied and chastised in front of his co-workers for trying to do so.

The Conservative MP for the New Brunswick riding of Miramichi-Grand Lake publicly disclosed earlier this week that he intends to refuse a pay raise of roughly $10,000. He says that he cannot, in good conscience, accept such a large pay hike when so many Canadians are struggling to make ends meet.

Like Dawson, all MPs are scheduled to receive the raise in April. They currently earn a base salary of $209,800, while the prime minister, opposition leader, the speaker of the House of Commons and his deputies, cabinet ministers, committee chairs and other office holders are paid even more — and that’s on top of the gold-plated benefits all MPs receive.

Canadian taxpayers, many of whom are having a hard time making their mortgage payments and affording their groceries, are the people who pay MPs those salaries. Dawson understands that, and that’s why he thinks an even higher salary is uncalled for.

In a letter to the clerk of the House of Commons, he wrote that “It’s frankly distasteful that parliamentarians are set to receive a raise while the working man (and woman) in this country hasn’t seen a decent raise in decades.”

We agree with him. It is grossly insensitive and inappropriate for MPs to be taking more from Canadians — lining their pockets with tax dollars — when so many citizens and their families are forced to get by with less.

Sadly, Dawson’s fellow MPs disagree with his decision.

During a Conservative caucus meeting on Wednesday, he was criticized and heckled by some of his fellow MPs for refusing to accept the pay hike.

Alberta MP Chris Warkentin, who serves as the party’s caucus whip, castigated Dawson in front of his caucus colleagues, saying that the scheduled pay hike is set out by law and that he cannot refuse to accept it.

When Dawson attempted to respond, he says he was heckled and yelled at by several of his fellow Tory MPs. He then left the meeting.

In his own defence, Dawson told the CBC on Thursday that “It’s my money. If the rest of caucus didn’t want to do it … I didn’t ask the rest of caucus to give the money back, but maybe they should.”

He added that “It’s pretty rich and hypocritical to get up on the floor of the House of Commons and talk about the cost of living and then criticize me for wanting to give my money back.”

He said he’s not seeking the respect of his fellow MPs, and explained that “I’m there to represent the people of Miramichi-Grand Lake. Those are the ones I care about if people respect me or not.”

It is refreshing to read those words, but it is also disappointing to consider that Dawson appears to be the only MP to have decided to refuse the raise. In particular, we note that Brandon-Souris MP Grant Jackson has not come out in support of Dawson and has not publicly committed to decline the pay hike.

There is still time for Jackson and his House of Commons colleagues to reconsider, and we encourage them to do so.

It is a privilege, not a right, to serve as a member of Parliament. And it is vital for our MPs to set a positive example, and always act in the best interests of their constituents.

To paraphrase Dawson, it would be inappropriate and hypocritical for MPs to accept such a large increase to an already generous salary at a time when so many Canadians are caught in the throes of a nationwide affordability crisis.

For that reason, we encourage Jackson and his fellow MPs to follow Dawson’s example, by declining the scheduled raise.