To get paid or not get paid? That is the political question in Vaughan/Markham
Councillors, trustees wrestle with decision over whether to donate, refuse or take pay during election period

Yorkregion.com
May 24, 2018
Tim Kelly

Should sitting politicians who are running for higher office continue to get their salaries once the writ is dropped for the election?

Professor Nelson Wiseman, who teaches political science at the University of Toronto, believes that if councillors and trustees continue to attend meetings and do their jobs, they have a right to continue getting their paycheques.

What he thinks is a bigger issue is the idea that those elected to municipal office should have let voters know they were interested in higher office when they originally stood for municipal election.

“When these people ran for these positions, did they indicate in their platform, hey, elect me, but if a provincial or federal election comes along, I’m going to run in the provincial or federal election. That, to me, is bad faith. That’s saying, if something better comes along, I’m going to run for that,” he said.

“Why should I vote for you, if you’re not even committed to fulfilling that job?”

Some of those running in York Region, including several councillors and school trustees have chosen to continue receiving their salaries while others have either donated their pay to charity or refused to accept their salaries during the writ period, which runs from May 9 to election day, June 7.

Here is a brief riding by riding breakdown of which politicians are doing what:

King-Vaughan:

Marilyn Iafrate, Ward 6 Vaughan councillor, Liberal candidate: Said she is not taking her salary. She said she is “still attending all statutory meetings and voting and still meeting with residents and doing site visits.”

Markham-Thornhill:

Juanita Nathan, Markham Wards 7 and 8 York Region District School Board Trustee, Liberal candidate: “Yes, I am currently still receiving the honorarium given to York Region District School Board Trustees.” Nathan said she is still fulfilling her duties and attending board meetings.

Logan Kanapathi, Ward 7 Markham councillor, Progressive Conservative candidate:  His campaign manager said he is donating his salary from the writ period from May 9 to June 7, approximately $4,000, to Autism Ontario. His campaign manager said he “is attending and participating in council meetings, general committee meetings, subcommittee meetings and all other council functions. “

Markham-Unionville:

Amanda Yeung Collucci, Markham Ward 6 councillor, Liberal candidate:  She is continuing to receive her salary during the writ period. Her campaign manager said “Amanda Yeung Collucci is attending all City of Markham meetings, managing items and issues and continues to work hard in her role as a City of Markham councillor.”

Billy Pang, Markham Wards 2, 3 and 6 York Region District School Board Trustee, Progressive Conservative candidate: His campaign manager said he cannot take a non-medical leave of absence from the school board, so is donating $2,000 to a local school.

York-Simcoe:

Loralea Carruthers, East Gwillimbury and Whitchurch-Stouffville York Region District School Board Trustee, Liberal candidate: She has continued to receive her honorarium and said: "I continue to serve my constituents on the school board and have not missed a board meeting. Residents have come to expect this level of customer service from me over the course of the past 15 years of my local, elected public service.”