Edmonton’s mayor has a plan to bypass his failed attempt to cut back his salary. Instead, pledging to donate back part of his wage to taxpayers, so he will make the same amount as Calgary’s mayor.
“I’ll look at other ways to see if there are other options available to me,” said Amarjeet Sohi, Edmonton mayor.
Edmonton’s mayor and city council got a three per cent increase at the start of the year.
A number decided by an independent third party.
This puts mayor Sohi’s salary around $223,000 a year and mayor Gondek $220,298.
Mayor Sohi’s makes almost $3,000 more than mayor Gonek in Calgary, saying he will be donating back the difference, to close the gap.
“What I want to focus on is that both Edmonton and Calgary have the same level of complexity managing the city and governance of the city and that the compensation for both mayors should be comparable,” said Sohi.
CityNews spoke with Edmontonian to see their reaction.
“I think it’s an incredibly noble thing, worthwhile,” said one local.
“I think he’s just trying to keep the waters calm and I like that he is doing that just to prove a point,” said one Edmontonian.
“It’s a political stunt, why not donate 10,000? Man up,” said another Edmontonian.
That perception of political stunts is what councillor Keren Tang is worried about.
While she thinks Sohi has good intentions, Tang doesn’t believe politicians should choose their own wage.
Pointing to Calgary’s recently defeated motion to freeze councillors salaries.
“That’s certainly already the criticism against the Calgary council and their efforts on social media and I’m seeing that that’s already surfacing which is inherently the risk with having politicians set their own salary,” said Tang.
Mayor Sohi, claims this has nothing to do with the next municipal election, which is just nine months away.
“It’s more of a principle in a way, the responsibility are the same and the compensation is the same,” said Sohi.
Mayor Sohi says he is still deciding if he will run in the October election.