Province Sets Salary Levels for Top Bureaucrats

Monday, September 22, 2008 01:56 PM

VICTORIA, B.C. - The salaries of every deputy and assistant deputy minister in the BC Public Service have now been reviewed and decisions have been made on the actual salary levels assigned to each individual executive member under the new compensation framework introduced in August.

As a result of this review, effective Aug. 1 the average actual pay for deputy ministers is $217,758, representing an average increase of just over seven per cent. The average salary under the new framework for assistant deputy ministers is $157,608, representing an average increase of 21 per cent. The deputy minister to the Premier has opted not to accept any increase in salary at this time.

The increases provided also reflect that the value of the salary holdback has been increased from five per cent to 10 per cent of each executive's annual pay. The holdback of each executive's salary is dependent on their performance on a series of specific measures linked
to building the corporate human resources of the BC Public Service. In real terms, that means on average up to almost $22,000 of deputy minister salaries and $16,000 in assistant deputy minister salaries are at risk if performance measures are not met. B.C. is the only
jurisdiction to have such a system in place to ensure ongoing performance.

Prior to the 2008 adjustment, assistant deputy minister salaries ranked tenth in Canada among other provinces and the federal government, and deputy minister salaries ranked sixth. Under the new framework, the maximum achievable salaries for both levels of executives in B.C. rank third in Canada, providing greater flexibility to be competitive in a tight labour market.

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Posted on Monday, September 22, 2008 01:56 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: lost it all on September 22 2008 2:36 PM

Who evaluates these performace levels, the same guru who authorized these huge wage increases? Sounds like "smoke and mirrors" to me.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on September 22 2008 2:44 PM

Crap.

Posted by: RUEZ on September 22 2008 3:13 PM

Campbell isn't allowing us our say. We'll have to give it to him at the next election.

Posted by: MrPG on September 22 2008 3:20 PM

I don't see what the fuss is about. According to the article (and the last paragraph), the pay raise brings them more on par with the Canadian average for the same type of work.

This kind of thing happens throughout all kinds of industries, private/public/union/non-union.

Of course, people see 'government pay raise' and the automatic knee-jerk reaction is predictable.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on September 22 2008 3:44 PM

So MrPG...Gordon Campbell and his cronies get a couple of unauthorized raises that they gave themselves with B.C.taxpayer's dollars and we get a carbon tax on gasoline and the fuel we heat our homes with?
And that's on top of the already rapidly rising costs?
So we actually have less than we did and they have more.
Sorry,but where I come from,that is just pain sleazy,and they did it at the worst possible time!

Posted by: lost it all on September 22 2008 3:51 PM

What union, non-union, or even mass public sector labour has recieved a 21% wage increase in our lifetimes. As for bringing thier wages in line to attract top executives in a tight labour market, sounds like "the old boys club" in the senior public service executive field in Canada have price fixed similar to "Big Oil".

Posted by: willowynde on September 22 2008 3:58 PM

Seniors get about $14,000 per YEAR. And they have to try to pay heatings costs, transportation costs. No wonder we are so sick of the politicians.

Posted by: rayban68 on September 22 2008 4:23 PM

MrPG I've had to warn you before about your rational thoughts and clearly layed out comments - this is an internet forum and there is no place for that here. Please try to shout a little bit more and perhaps throw some random comments about the evil governments etc. This will help to give you more credibility here.

Willowynde - How is that relevant? Seniors don't work, they collect CPP RRSP, pensions, etc. Their pay should/is directly related to how much they saved and how wisely they invested.

Posted by: Outwest on September 22 2008 5:23 PM

This is just Peanuts to what they spend in this Hellhole Afghanistan

Posted by: MrPG on September 22 2008 6:07 PM

I know rayban, but I have to try.

I guess it's just more fun to gripe about those 'darned politicians'. When will I ever learn?

Posted by: downnotout on September 22 2008 6:08 PM

this is real nice give them selves another pay hike when the econmey of the province is in a downslide and what about the injuried workers getting their pay cut by 10% when are they going to get it back

Posted by: downnotout on September 22 2008 6:10 PM

I think that there is nothing wrong with politics in this province that an assassination or two won't cure

Posted by: downnotout on September 22 2008 6:11 PM

might make the rest off them sit up and take notice

Posted by: Chester on September 22 2008 9:23 PM

To me, it doesn't matter what others in other jurisdictions get paid. It's possible that they may be overpaid, or underpaid for what they do.

It's difficult to know that government positions receive these kinds of raises when the remainder of the population is restricted to 2% TO 5%

Posted by: Chester on September 22 2008 9:23 PM

Posted by: MrPG on September 23 2008 8:31 AM

You have to look at what other jurisdictions are being paid.

The reality of the labour market is if you're an employer and you can't compete with your competitor (through salary and benefits), you will lose your employee.

Posted by: Howrd_B_Stern on September 23 2008 11:45 AM

Yeah MrPG, and how many times are we listening to the TV or radio and hear about yet another ministry that is run into the ground by incompetence at the top?

Do you think that they deputy minister of the MCFD, who once again are being exposed as a ministry full of incompetence, deserves a raise? Where is their accountability to the citizens of this province, particularly the senseless deaths of children that could have been prevented?

What about the person who has ICBC under their watch as a deputy minister? There's a glaring example of corruption and greed.

Don't give me that so-called logic about other jurisdictions. It's the same old story when Gordo and Co. cut thousands of jobs: If you don't like living in the supposed "Best Place on Earth (250 excluded)", move to another jurisdiction. Here's 10 bucks to take 10 more deputy lackeys with you!

Posted by: MrPG on September 23 2008 1:19 PM

Hey, don't shoot the messenger, I was just rehashing what it said in the last paragraph. Sorry you're not willing to face up to the realities of the labour market.

I understand articles like this are made to get people riled up and it looks like it has succeeded.