Ottawa city councillors currently earn more than $90,000 per year, not including their unaccountable $6,000 car allowance or free public transit pass.

If elected to city council, Cumberland Candidate Stephen Blais will champion a wage-freeze for city councillors.

“There is no denying that the city is in a financial mess”, said Cumberland Candidate Stephen Blais. “In tough economic times we owe it to taxpayers to lead by example and impose a wage freeze on ourselves.”

According to Statistics Canada the average household income of Ottawa-Gatineau is $84,000, which ranks as the highest household income by city in all of Canada. Ottawa City Councillors are currently paid more, on their own, than the average total family income in our City.

“City Councillors are well paid,” says Blais. “They can all afford a wage-freeze until we get our fiscal house in order.”

While the savings are small in the context of the entire city budget, City Councillors will be displaying fiscal restraint and leadership.

For more information on Statistics Canada, please visit:
http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/famil107a-eng.htm