MLA Remuneration

In 1969 the Members of the Legislative Assembly Pension Plan was established by the MLA Pension Act to provide a contributory pension plan for Members of the Legislative Assembly. Participation in the MLA Pension Plan was voluntary, and a minimum period of pensionable service was needed to qualify for a pension. This pension plan closed to new Members in 1989, with active participation ending in 1993.

In 2001 a program was brought in that paid an allowance equal to one half of the Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) dollar limit for that calendar year to every person who was a Member in that fiscal year. This was eliminated in 2012, when the Retirement Investment Option was introduced.

Originally referred to as a Re-establishment Allowance for Members of the Legislative Assembly when it was introduced in July 1988, this was renamed the Transition Allowance in 1998. The Transition Allowance was considered a retiring allowance and was available when Members of the Legislative Assembly retired or were defeated from their role as elected officials. The allowance was calculated based on a formula taking into consideration length of service and Member indemnity. This Transition Allowance benefit was terminated in 2012. 

As of February 11, 2025, based on an approved motion of the Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services, amendments were made to section 9 of the Members’ Allowances Order and a new Transition Allowance was implemented.  Under this Transition Allowance eligible Members will be paid an amount determined by the formula

A x B

• where A is the average monthly amount of the indemnity allowance received in the fiscal year in which the eligible Member received the highest indemnity allowance, and
  
  
• where B is the number of years, including any fraction of a year calculated on a proportionate basis, that the eligible Member served as a Member on or after April 16, 2019, not exceeding 6 years

Members of the Legislative Assembly do not pay into employment insurance and, as such, do not qualify to receive coverage.

Since 2012 Members of the Legislative Assembly who have served a minimum of three months in that fiscal year shall receive a retirement investment amount equal to 13 per cent of the Member’s indemnity allowance. In addition, a Member who has served a minimum of three months in that fiscal year may make a contribution to the Member’s RRSP account of up to 3.65 per cent of their indemnity allowance, and the Legislative Assembly Office shall contribute an amount to the Member’s RRSP account that is equal to the contributions made by the Member.