Central Nova MP Sean Fraser is welcoming Prime Minister Mark Carney’s announcement that all Canadian Armed Forces Members will be getting a pay raise
A release from the prime minister’s office earlier this month stated the updates include increases on top of base pay, retroactive to April 1st, resulting in an 8 per cent raise for colonels and above, a 13 per cent raise for lieutenant-colonels and below, and a 20 per cent increase in starting pay for privates in the Regular Force.
There is also a new Military Service Pay benefit, specifically tied to time in service, with additional compensation initiatives to be rolled out over the next 12 months, including support for frequent moves and separation from families to help attract and retain the best instructors at training schools, raises to help CAF members training for combat, and additional pay for CAF members who serve in natural disasters.
The release states the changes are part of the strategic investments to meet NATO’s two per cent defence spending target this year and invest five per cent of annual GDP in defence by 2035.
Fraser says he has yet to meet a person who disagrees with the idea of men and women in uniform getting a pay raise.
Fraser said it also going to be an effective recruiting tool to signal to people that they will be paid fairly for the service they offer to Canada