MLA Remuneration and Expenses

Indemnities and Allowances

Members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia receive remuneration in the form of basic compensation, additional salaries, and various allowances:

• Annual Basic Compensation
• Additional Salaries
• Capital City Living Allowance
• Meals Per Diem
• Constituency Office Allowance
• Constituency Office Lease
• Constituency Office Insurance
• In-Constituency Travel Allowance
• Travel Allowance

Annual Basic Compensation

Effective April 1, 2009, the annual basic compensation per member is $101,859.00.

Note: The members’ basic compensation is to be increased April 1 of each year by the percentage increase of the BC consumer price index, if any, for the 12-month period ending on December 31 of the previous year, in accordance with subsection 2(2) of the Members’ Remuneration and Pensions Act. Legislative amendments introduced since the Spring of 2010 call for no adjustments to be made to basic compensation with respect to fiscal years commencing on April 1, 2010, April 1, 2011, April 1, 2012 and April 1, 2013.

Additional Salaries

MLAs who hold parliamentary or ministerial office receive an additional salary that corresponds to a percentage of the basic compensation. If a MLA holds two or more positions for which an additional salary is granted, the MLA is entitled only to the higher salary.

Capital City Living Allowance

Members from outside the Capital Regional District (CRD) who rent accommodations in Victoria will have two choices in reimbursement schemes. The first calls for reimbursement of paid expenses covering rent in an arm’s length rental relationship, utilities, basic telephone and Internet service, apartment content insurance, parking, and furniture rental, up to a maximum of $19,000 per fiscal year. A cap of $175 per month is set on furniture rental. Non-arm’s length rental relationship includes rental arrangements with individuals connected by blood relationship, marriage, or adoption (legal or in fact), former business associates, former Members, staff of caucuses, and other persons LAMC may include to the list from time to time. Members will have to sign a declaration to the effect that they rent premises from an arm’s length person. With the second scheme, Members can elect, for administrative efficiency, to instead receive the sum of $1,000 per month without having to provide supporting documentation. No further sums will be paid out to Members making this election.

Members from outside the CRD who own accommodations in Victoria as a second residence will have the same two choices in reimbursement schemes. The first calls for reimbursement of paid expenses covering property taxes, strata fees, if any, insurance, basic telephone and Internet service, parking and furniture rental, up to a maximum of $19,000 per fiscal year. A cap of $175 per month is set on furniture rental. With the second scheme, Members can elect, for administrative efficiency, to instead receive the sum of $1,000 per month without having to provide supporting documentation. No further sums will be paid out to Members making this election.

For Members from outside the CRD who stay in hotels when in Victoria, reimbursement will be made for hotel expenses, parking and Internet service, upon presentation of receipts, up to a maximum of $17,000 per fiscal year.

Meals Per Diem

For meals, the sum of $61 per day can be claimed by Members when either in Victoria or on travel status throughout the province. This sum is not claimable when in constituency. This rate is also not prorated for partial days or per-meal basis, but claimed at the full $61.00. No receipted claims for meals are accepted.

Constituency Office Allowance

Effective July 18, 2006, $9,916.67 per month, or $119,000.00 per fiscal year (plus the employer’s share of compulsory payroll deductions) is made available to each member towards the actual operating costs, including staff salaries, of (a) constituency office(s). The allowance can be apportioned towards office, communications, and protocol expenses in a manner best suited to each member, and for office occupancy costs such as heat and light, if these are not included in the lease payments. The allowance is not to be used for political purposes, members’ expenses, supplementing members’ allowances, or acquiring an equity in real estate or in a motor vehicle.

 Computers, telephones and printer/fax/photocopy equipment will be provided by the Legislative Assembly.

Constituency Office Lease

Leases for members’ constituency office(s) should be submitted to the Office of the Legislative Comptroller for direct payment to the respective landlords. The full lease costs, including normal occupancy costs such as heat, apportioned amount of property taxes, common area expenses, parking, etc., provided these are stated in the lease, will be paid in addition to the above noted allowances.

Constituency Office Insurance

The Legislative Assembly provides blanket insurance coverage for each constituency office. This policy will cover fire, theft, vandalism and personal liability (personal injuries sustained by persons visiting a constituency office).

In-Constituency Travel Allowance

In each fiscal year an allowance for travel within a member’s riding is paid quarterly. The annual allowances by riding are as follows:

Urban — $3,190

Semi-Urban — $4,752

Rural — $7,125

Semi-Rural — $6,314

Coastal/Remote — $11,580

Travel Allowance

Members can travel within the province provided the travel is related to their work as an MLA and is reasonable and justifiable.

For travel outside constituency, members will be reimbursed for all travel and accommodation costs plus a per diem amount ($61.00) to cover meals and miscellaneous expenses. Use of personal vehicles is reimbursed at a rate of $0.50 per kilometer.

Members are allocated 12 trips per fiscal year to be used by accompanying persons.

Travel outside the province must be approved by the Speaker.

Members are provided with a corporate Visa card to use solely for their travel expenses.