INNISFAIL – With a municipal general election on the horizon, the Town of Innisfail's council has agreed to establish a citizen-driven Council Remuneration Committee to determine whether elected members receive appropriate compensation.
The issue was brought to council’s attention at its regular meeting on May 26 by Erica Vickers, the town’s director of corporate services.
Council unanimously approved a motion to direct administration to establish a Council Remuneration Committee in accordance with the town’s Council Remuneration Policy.
“While the policy does not require a review to occur at a specific time within the year, it establishes an expectation that a review be considered in an election year,” said Vickers in her report to council.
Vickers told council a Council Remuneration Review can assess honorariums, claimable rates, and benefits as indicated in the approved motion.
“We will get the committee conducted over the summer and have the results before the election happens, so that any potential new councillors will be well aware of what they would be paid going forward,” Vickers told council.
She added the town is participating in a regional Council Remuneration Survey that will include updated information on base honorariums and per diem rates that are provided to elected officials in comparable Alberta municipalities.
The last citizens-led remuneration review came in 2023, and council approved hiking the mayor’s pay from $2,835 to $2,950, with town councillors going from 1,365 a month to 1,400; a $35 raise.
Council also decided to leave the two monthly A & P meetings out of the monthly honorarium.
If councillors show up at A & P, they get an extra $125, and if they don’t there will be no compensation.
In the meantime, council members are not directly saying whether they deserve more or even less compensation for their important civic roles.
However, they agreed it was important the review be done.
“I would like to see the review happen this year, simply because it is an election year,” said Coun. Janice Wing. “This is a committee that is independent of council, so the decision around whether compensation or any of those pieces is adequate or sufficient or needs to be changed should be left up to that committee.”
Coun. Jason Heistad told the Albertan that a good hard review of council renumeration is a step forward in attracting the best qualified council candidates.
“If we make sure that we remunerate properly, we will get the best candidates in the near future running for town council,” said Heistad. “There's a lot of skill and time that goes into these roles.”
Mayor Jean Barclay said she was not “going to weigh” into a discussion about council raises but she added it was her belief citizens are more committed to serve than receiving a pay cheque.
“I don't think people are attracted to the job because of the pay,” said Barclay. “They're attracted to the job because they want to serve the community.”
