As Saskatchewan residents continue to feel the pressure of the rising cost of living, the province’s two main political parties are calling for a pause to a scheduled pay increase.

Saskatchewan MLAs see their salaries adjusted every April 1 based on a formula tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). According to Statistics Canada, the CPI rose 6.8 per cent in 2022.

Premier Scott Moe said that the increase seems relatively high, and the Government plans to deny the recommended increase.

“We have some time for the Board of Internal Economy to have a look at this,” he said. “The Government isn’t in favour of taking that salary increase; what we are looking at is there something that w can come to an agreement on. I don’t know what that will look like, but it isn’t going to be what’s recommended.”

Official Opposition Leader Carla Beck said as residents are struggling financially, it shouldn’t even be consider to accept the increase.

“We shouldn’t even be contemplating a 6.8 per cent increase,” she stated. “It shouldn’t be a second thought that they’d (Sask. Party) even consider look at the 6.8 per cent ”

Beck added that for the Government even to consider the scheduled salary increase would be ‘out of touch’ with so many residents in the province struggling to make ends meet.

This year’s proposed increase would total more than the previous years combined. In 2022, MLAs received a 2.6 per cent pay raise; in 2021 the raise was just under two per cent.