MLA Remuneration

Effective April 1, 2007

In accordance with a decision of the Special Standing Committee on Members' Services on October 5, 1998, components of Member remuneration are to be adjusted on April 1 of each year by the same percentage increase or decrease as in the Average Weekly Earnings for Alberta as reported by Statistics Canada survey of employment payroll and hours for the immediately preceding calendar year.

The table below summarizes the resulting adjustments effective April 1, 2007, based on the Alberta Average Weekly Earnings*. The 4.92 per cent change has been calculated by comparing the average of earnings for January to December 2005 to the average of earnings for January to December 2006. (The remuneration figures have been rounded for pay administration purposes.)

MLA Indemnity and Allowance

Additional Indemnity, Office Other Than MLA

Special Members' Allowances

Committee Allowances (Committees of the Assembly)

Category A Committees:

  • Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund
  • Standing Committee on Private Bills
  • Standing Committee on Public Accounts
  • Standing Committee on Legislative Offices
  • Special Standing Committee on Members' Services
  • Standing Committee on Community Services (effective April 17, 2007)
  • Standing Committee on Government Services (effective April 17, 2007)
  • Standing Committee on Managing Growth Pressures (effective April 17, 2007)
  • Standing Committee on Resources and Environment (effective April 17, 2007)
  • Select Special Committees established by motion of the Assembly

Category B Committees:

  • Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing

* average weekly earnings (SEPH), unadjusted for seasonal variation, by type of employee for selected industries classified using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), monthly (Dollars) (281-0026)

Remuneration Reports

Frequently Asked Questions

In 1969 the Member of the Legislative Assembly Pension Plan was established by the MLA Pension Act to provide a contributory pension plan for Members of the Legislative Assembly.  Participation in the MLA Pension Plan was voluntary and a minimum period pensionable service was needed to qualify for a pension.  This pension plan closed to new Members in 1989 with active participation ending in 1993.

In 2001 a program was brought in that paid to every person who was Member in that fiscal year an allowance equal to ½ of the Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) dollar limit for that calendar year.  This was eliminated in 2012 when the Retirement Investment Option was introduced. 

Originally referred to as a Re-establishment Allowance when introduced in July 1988 for Members of the Legislative Assembly this was renamed to Transition Allowance in 1998.  The Transition Allowance was considered a ‘retiring allowance’ and available when Members of the Legislative Assembly retired or defeated from their role as elected officials.  The allowance was calculated based on a formula taking into consideration length of service and member indemnity.  Members of Legislative Assembly elected after April 23, 2012 are not eligible for a Transition Allowance. 

Members of the Legislative Assembly do not pay into employment insurance and, as such, do not qualify to receive coverage.

Since 2012, Members of the Legislative Assembly who have served a minimum of 3 months in that fiscal year shall receive a retirement investment amount equal to 13 per cent of the Member’s indemnity allowance.  In addition, a Member who has served a minimum of 3 months in that fiscal year may make a contribution to the Member’s RRSP account up to 3.65 per cent of their indemnity allowance, and the Legislative Assembly Office shall contribute an amount to the member’s RRSP account that is equal to the contributions made by the Member.

MLA Compensation Adjustments