City council will not take a pay cut to show solidarity with residents whom the pandemic has negatively affected financially, even though other places have taken similar actions.
Coun. Brian Swanson introduced a motion during the July 13 regular meeting to have city councillors take a 20-per-cent pay reduction effective immediately and lasting until the end of October, in recognition of the consequences the pandemic has had on society. He introduced a similar recommendation during the June 29 executive committee meeting — pointing out New Zealand has done something similar — but council voted against that idea.
During the July 13 regular meeting, council again voted 6-1 against the idea.
A report came out recently showing 40 per cent of Saskatchewan’s workforce — or 200,000 people — is receiving the federal Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), which means proportionately, about 6,500 Moose Javians are also receiving this federal aid, Swanson said.
The pandemic has had a significant disruption on residents’ personal and social lives, while businesses — especially small businesses — have been hit hard, seen reduced traffic, reduced income, and even closed permanently, he continued. Furthermore, city councillors have had less work since municipal committees have not been meeting.
“We have the opportunity to show leadership and understanding of the economic impact of this in a symbolic gesture,” added Swanson, “by reducing our pay 20 per cent to the end of our term to stand with people extremely affected … .”
Coun. Heather Eby accused Swanson of engaging in a “great political move” by pushing for a reduction in pay. She pointed out she allegedly knows some elected officials at higher levels who took a pay cut and then applied for CERB. Moose Jaw councillors could do the same thing, which wouldn’t make sense.
While there has been less work to do, Eby noted there are still some committees that meet, while she continues to respond to residents’ calls and emails.
“While I respect this idea, I don’t feel it is the right thing to do,” she added.
Coun. Dawn Luhning didn’t think taking a pay cut was the right thing to do, either. The committees on which she sits — the Humane Society, the Cultural Centre and the downtown business group — have still met during the pandemic. She has used her business’ software to facilitate these meetings.
“There have been a lot of things those groups want to talk about,” she said, adding her workload has not lessened at all.
Coun. Crystal Froese echoed Luhning’s comments about still having work to do. She has been providing advice to the members of her committees about how to navigate the pandemic, staffing issues and the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s requirements.
“I don’t believe any of us here are sitting on our laurels. I think our city needs us,” she added. “We are doing exactly what we need to do to help our community through this, with committees and any other organizations we are involved in as individuals.”
Council has met regularly during the pandemic with regular and executive committee meetings and strategic planning meetings, said Coun. Chris Warren. Council recently learned that the municipal committees would likely reconvene in September.
He then attacked Swanson for raising this issue.
“I’m disappointed Coun. Swanson would use this platform to politicize the tragedies of this pandemic,” Warren added.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, July 27.
