Pay raises for Conservative staff despite cuts

The Globe and Mail:

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is defending pay raises for Conservative political staffers at a time of budget belt-tightening.

Mr. Harper was asked Saturday about new rules which could result in a financial win-win for Tory aides in ministerial offices regardless of whether the Conservatives win or lose the May 2nd election.

The guidelines quietly went into effect on April 1, boosting the maximum salary political staffers can be paid. They also hike by 50 per cent the maximum separation pay they can receive should they find themselves suddenly out of work.

Those changes come into effect as Harper's Conservatives are vowing to cut $4-billion a year from the federal budget.

Continue reading here.