The Toronto City Council voted to give themselves a $33,000 raise. This is a 24 per cent increase in each of the 25 city councillors’ salaries, bringing it to just over $170,000. This comes at a time when Torontonians are suffering one of the highest costs of living, not only in the country but the entire world. The average income of someone living in Toronto is just $49,000, almost three-and-a-half times less than a city councillor.
Councillor Shelly Carol, Toronto’s budget chief, justified the raise by claiming that the city needs to attract “the very best.” In reality, this raise will only further attract money-hungry politicians who view public office not as a responsibility but as a career opportunity.
This includes Olivia Chow, Toronto’s ‘progressive’ mayor, who claims the raise was “a bit steep” but made $225,000 last year alone! Compare that 24 per cent over one year to the 14 per cent over four years she just reluctantly granted to city workers. While they fight tooth and nail to pay their workers as little as possible, Chow and the rest of city hall have no problem increasing the police budget by $46.2 million.
This is the reality of capitalism, where workers can barely make ends meet while politicians get paid hand over fist to act in the interests of the ruling class.
–Azriel K., Toronto
