Members' Compensation Review Committee (MCRC) 2024
50th General Assembly

• Mandate
• Order of Reference
• Committee Members
• Committee Support Team
• Areas of Inquiry & References
• Additional Resources
• How to Participate
• Final Report

Mandate

The Members' Compensation Review Committee (MCRC) is established in accordance with section 16 of the House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act (the Act) to conduct an inquiry and provide recommendations respecting the salaries, allowances, severance and pensions paid to Members of the House of Assembly.

The House of Assembly passed a resolution on November 2, 2023 to appoint Heather M. Jacobs, KC to conduct this review in the 50th General Assembly. The appointment, effective December 1, 2023, is in accordance with subsection 16(1) of the Act, which requires that such a review take place once during each general assembly.

In accordance with the order of reference adopted by the House, the MCRC must deliver its final report to the Speaker on or before April 1, 2024. Once submitted, the House of Assembly Management Commission will review the recommendations in accordance with the process prescribed in the Act.

Order of Reference

The following order of reference establishing the MCRC was passed by resolution of the House of Assembly on November 2, 2023:

WHEREAS subsection 16(1) of the House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act requires that an independent Committee called the Members' Compensation Review Committee, be appointed at least once during each General Assembly; and

WHEREAS in accordance with subsection 16(2) of the House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act, the Speaker has consulted with the Government House Leader, the Opposition House Leader and the Third Party on the appointment to the said Committee; and

WHEREAS the Government House Leader, the Opposition House Leader and Third Party have agreed with the introduction of this resolution; and

WHEREAS under subsection 16(4) of the House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act, a Members' Compensation Review Committee appointed under this resolution must report to the Speaker on its recommendations within 120 days of its appointment;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED (1) That Heather Jacobs, KC, is appointed to the Members' Compensation Review Committee with the appointment to be effective on December 1, 2023; (2) That in accordance with section 16 of the House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act, the Members' Compensation Review Committee shall inquire into and prepare a report respecting the salaries, allowances, severance and pensions to be paid to the Members of the House of Assembly; and (3) That in particular, the Committee shall:

(a) recommend the annual salary for Members of the House of Assembly;
(b) review and make recommendations regarding additional salary provisions for positions identified in subsection 12(1) of the House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act;
(c) recommend a formula or means for making annual salary adjustments for salary amounts referenced in clauses (a) and (b) above;
(d) review and make any recommendations regarding the current severance pay policy for Members of the House of Assembly;
(e) review the current provisions for Members pensions and provide any recommendations for adjustments;

AND THAT as part of its inquiries, the Committee may consult with appropriate persons who can assist the Committee with respect to its required duties and shall consult with the current Members of the House of Assembly and House of Assembly Service regarding any issues identified in the current regime, as well as any administrative, legislative or other impacts of proposed recommendations;

AND THAT the House of Assembly shall conclude any contractual arrangements required to carry out the intent of this resolution;

AND THAT the Members' Compensation Review Committee deliver its report to the Speaker on or before April 1, 2024.

Committee Members

Heather M. Jacobs, KC

Served as Deputy Minister of the Department of Justice and Public Safety on three occasions from 2015 to 2022. Prior to that time, Ms. Jacobs also served as Assistant Deputy Minister in that Department for nine years, managed the Government Services Unit within the Civil Division for four years, and served as a solicitor in the Civil Division for 13 years. Ms. Jacobs received her Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from Memorial University in 1984 and Bachelor of Laws degree from York University (Osgoode Hall) in 1987. Ms. Jacobs was appointed Queens Counsel in 2015 and has been a member of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador since 1988. She has served as a member of the Nalcor Board (as government appointee) and sat independently in 2018. She has also served as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Oil and Gas Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador and a member of the Expert Panel on Churchill Falls 2041.

Committee Support Team

Sandra Barnes
Senior Advisor

Maureen McCarthy
Pensions Advisor

Adrienne Ding
Legal Counsel

Yvonne Power
Administrative Officer

Areas of Inquiry & References

Salary

• House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act – sections 11(1) and 12
• Members' Compensation – Overview and Annual Compensation Reports
• Members' Guide to Resources and Allowances – Module 3

Pension

• House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act, paragraph 11(3)(b)
• Members of the House of Assembly Retiring Allowances Act, sections 10-11 and 18-20
• Members' Guide to Resources and Allowances – Module 3

Severance

• House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act – paragraph 11(3)(a)

• Members' Guide to Resources and Allowances – Module 3

• Severance Policy for Members of the House of Assembly

Allowances

• Office Operations, Supplies & Communications
  • Members' Resources and Allowances Rules – sections 18-24
  • Members' Guide to Resources and Allowances – Module 4
• Operational Resources
  • Members' Resources and Allowances Rules – section 25-27
  • Members' Guide to Resources and Allowances – Module 4
• Travel & Living
  • Members' Resources and Allowances Rules – sections 28-44; Schedule A; Schedule B
  • Members' Guide to Resources and Allowances – Modules 5
• Constituency Allowance
  • Members' Resources and Allowances Rules – sections 46-47
  • Members' Guide to Resources and Allowances – Module 4

Additional Resources

Rebuilding Confidence: Report of the Review Commission on Constituency Allowances and Related Matters (Green Report)

Members' Compensation Review Committee Report – 2016

Members' Compensation Review Committee Report – 2012

• Annex to Report

Members' Compensation Review Committee Report – 2009

• Annex to Report

Policies and Guidelines Applicable to Members of the House of Assembly

How to Participate

The Committee is inviting input from the public during its review. Any person or organization wishing to participate, can do so as follows:

Written submission:

Must be received on or before January 26, 2024 by:

Virtual session:

Persons or organizations interested in participating in a virtual session must pre-register on or before January 22, 2024 at:

These sessions will be scheduled during the week of January 29 to February 2, 2024. Further information regarding available dates and times will be provided following registration.

Information and feedback gathered from the consultations noted above will be summarized in the final report, but will not include identifying information.