Cut back on MLAs, argues Island Party
Prince Edward Island should follow the lead of New Brunswick and reduce the number of elected representatives in the provincial legislature, says the Island Party.
New Brunswick recently announced it will cut the number of sitting MLAs from 55 to 49.
Island Party president Sandra Sharpe said 49 MLAs would be one for every 15,000 New Brunswickers. With 27 MLAs, P.E.I. currently has an one MLA for every 5,000 Islanders. That makes the Island the highest represented province in Canada.
"People have to realize the cost of keeping 27 MLAs," said Sharpe.
"We now have a half-a-billion dollar deficit that has accumulated very rapidly in very few years. And I do think that the time is going to come where those other provinces are going to say 'I don't care whether you're a province or not. We're not paying anymore.'"
The Island Party does not have a specific suggestion for how many MLAs should be cut, but Sharpe said she'd like to see fewer than 24.
Cutting six Island MLAs would save around $1 million in salaries and office operating expenses, as well as the money spent on benefits, pensions, mileage and a few other perks.
