The politicians took the action in the face of a threatened massive deficit over the next couple of years.
The provincial Tories have been warning over the last couple of months that changes are coming for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians ... and they won’t be pleasant.
There will almost certainly be layoffs of civil servants, reduction in services and other cost-cutting measures.
Really, the MHAs had little option but to make the choice they did. The savings will be minimal but it will send a message that politicians are doing their bit to help with the ballooning deficit.
And politicians always want to look like they are doing the right thing.
Soon the real pain will hit for the rest of us.
It’s one thing for well-paid politicians to turn down a few extra dollars but it pales when compared with what is likely on the horizon for ordinary citizens who are just managing to get by as it is.
"The provincial Tories have been warning over the last couple of months that changes are coming for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians ... and they won’t be pleasant." -
Waiting a few extra minutes to get your vehicle licence renewed because some of the staff has been let go is one thing but what about if medical services are negatively impacted?
We have become used to having to wait for hours in an outpatients department to see a doctor or having to travel to St. John’s for medical treatment beyond the most basic but what if there are more reductions coming?
No one in government has said health care or education will be shielded from the cost cutting and that is more worrisome than our MHAs having to scrape by on the $90,000 a year basic pay ... plus perks.
Those in charge of crafting this spring’s budget had better plan carefully and weigh every choice.
There are some things taxpayers just won’t stand for.
"pay 6 figures in taxes". That's funny because you're counting cents after the decimal.