Alberta’s Redford moves to freeze MLA pay ahead of belt-tightening budget

EDMONTON – Alberta’s governing Tories plan to put the brakes on a pay increase for politicians ahead of a tough budget.

On April 1, members of the legislature were to get a cost of living and housing allowance increases equal to about four per cent of their salary.

But the Tories say they will use their majority on the legislature’s member services committee to prevent that.

Premier Alison Redford announced the news on Twitter with the hash tag bitumen bubble.

Bitumen bubble is the term Redford has coined to explain the discount on oilsands oil that is eating a hole in Alberta’s bottom line.

She says the pay freeze is about politicians leading by example as the province prepares to tighten its belt.