Members' Compensation Review Committee (MCRC) 2026
51st General Assembly
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 June 2, 2026 to appoint Heather M. Jacobs, KC to conduct this review in the 51st General Assembly. The appointment, effective June 15, 2026, 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 October 13, 2026. 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 June 2, 2026:
WHEREAS subsection 16(1) of the House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act ("the Act") requires the appointment of an independent committee, named the Members' Compensation Review Committee, to conduct an inquiry and prepare a report respecting salaries, allowances, severance and pensions to be paid to MHAs once every General Assembly;
AND WHEREAS some matters contained in the MCRC 2024 Report entitled "How We Value Democracy" were considered by the Management Commission, but matters required to be considered by the House of Assembly were not addressed before the end of the 50th General Assembly;
AND WHEREAS in accordance with subsection 16(2) of the 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
AND WHEREAS the Government House Leader, the Opposition House Leader and Third Party have agreed with the introduction of this resolution; and
AND WHEREAS under subsection 16(4) of the 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 June 15, 2026;
(2) THAT in accordance with section 16 of the 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;
(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; and (d) review and make any recommendations regarding the current transitional allowance policy for Members of the House of Assembly;
(4) AND THAT the the MCRC Report for the 50th General Assembly entitled "How We Value Democracy" shall form the basis of the MCRC Report for the 51st General Assembly;
(5) AND THAT the Committee shall:
(a) review, update, revise or replace any of its previous recommendations, where appropriate; and
(b) ensure that consultation is completed which includes current Members of the House of Assembly, former Members of the House of Assembly, and any other interested parties.
Committee Members
Heather M. Jacobs, KC
Heather M. Jacobs, KC completed the Members' Compensation Review in the 50th General Assembly, authoring the report entitled "How We Value Democracy" dated April 2024. She 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 the Department of Justice and Public Safety for nine years, managed the Government Services Unit within the Civil Division of the Department of Justice 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 practicing 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 Board of the RNC Foundation.
Committee Support Team
Sandra Barnes
Senior Advisor
Maureen McCarthy
Pensions Advisor
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
Allowances
- Office Operations, Supplies & Communications
- Operational Resources
- Travel & Living
- Constituency Allowance
Additional Resources
Members' Compensation Review Committee Report – 2024
Members' Compensation Review Committee Report – 2016
Members' Compensation Review Committee Report – 2012
Members' Compensation Review Committee Report – 2009
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 [TBD] by:
| Email: | [TBD] |
| Mail: | Members' Compensation Review Committee P.O. Box 8700 St. John's, NL A1B 4J6 Attention: Heather M. Jacobs, KC, MCRC 2026 |
Virtual session:
Persons or organizations interested in participating in a virtual session must pre-register on or before [TBD] at:
| Tel: | [TBD] |
| Email: | [TBD] |
These sessions will be scheduled during the week of [TBD]. 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.