Dear Editor:
It's welcome news that the premier has rescinded the large pay increases for political staff appointed by individual cabinet ministers. It's a smart move considering the public outrage it generated and the likelihood of it carrying over into the Westside-Kelowna by-election.
Unfortunately, Christy Clark is exempting one of her own staff members from the salary reversal. She intends to pay her former assistant campaign director, Michele Cadario, a whooping $175,000 as deputy chief of staff. The justification offered is that Cadario will be doing two jobs instead of just one. It's not very believable.
The fact of the matter is that the controversial attempt to reward ministerial aides for political (as opposed to public) service has its origins in a firmly entrenched culture of entitlement within the Liberal government. Moreover, Clark's decision with respect to her personal political appointee suggests she believes some have a greater entitlement than others.
Bill Brassington, Burnaby
