The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is applauding member of Parliament Mike Dawson for rejecting the April 1 politician pay raise.

“Dawson is showing real leadership and proving he is a true champion for taxpayers by turning down the upcoming MP pay raise,” said Franco Terrazzano, CTF Federal Director. “It takes courage to stand alone and do the right thing and Dawson is showing real guts to turn down this pay raise.

“Here’s something Dawson needs to remember: He may be alone on this issue in the House of Commons, but thousands and thousands of taxpayers across Canada are standing with him.”

Today, Dawson published a letter he wrote to the House of Commons instructing the government to “make the necessary arrangements with the payroll and benefits administration” so he doesn’t receive the April 1 MP pay raise.

“At a time when everyday Canadians are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living, I cannot in good conscience accept the pay increase of nearly $10,000 which every member of Parliament is set to receive,” Dawson wrote. “It is frankly distasteful that Parliamentarians are set to receive a raise while the working man and woman in this country hasn’t seen a decent raise in decades.”

MPs give themselves pay raises every year on April 1.  

The CTF estimates MP pay will increase by about 4.2 per cent this year based on the government’s wage data. Using this data, the CTF estimates this year’s pay raise will amount to an extra $8,800 for backbench MPs, $13,000 for ministers and $17,600 for the prime minister.

After this year’s pay raise, backbench MPs will receive a $218,600 annual salary, according to CTF estimates. A minister will collect $322,700 and the prime minister will take $437,200.

“Dawson is proving he understands the struggles facing Canadian taxpayers and all MPs should follow his leadership and cancel the upcoming MP pay raise,” Terrazzano said. “Prime Minister Mark Carney told Canadians to brace for ‘sacrifices,’ so the least politicians could do is stop stuffing their own wallets with more taxpayers’ money.”

Leger polling shows 79 per cent of Canadians opposed the MP pay raise in 2025, 80 per cent opposed it in 2024, 80 per cent opposed it in 2023 and 79 per cent opposed MP pay raises in 2022.

The federal government stopped the automatic MP pay raises from 2010 to 2013.