New Brunswick MP Mike Dawson is fighting a pay raise in court, but the House of Commons says he can't refuse it. According to House clerk Eric Janse, Dawson's sessional allowance must be paid according to legislation, which requires a $8,800 increase. The base salary for MPs was increased from $208,900 to $217,700 on April 1, with pay indexed to private-sector salaries. The House of Commons is arguing that allowing Dawson to opt out would be illegal and require administrative measures to establish a separate calculation every year.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Mike Dawson, the Conservative MP from Miramichi-Grand Lake in New Brunswick, attempted to refuse a $8,800 pay raise. However, according to an affidavit filed by House clerk Eric Janse, it is against the law for Parliament to deviate from paying MPs their prescribed salaries, including annual adjustments. This means that Dawson's request to opt out of the raise was denied, and he will receive the increased amount as part of his sessional allowance. The decision was made in response to a judicial review application filed by Dawson in June.
Written for “MP Pay Raise Ruling” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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Leaning score -0.30 for article 622 (low confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-27
Miramichi MP can’t refuse pay raise, House of Commons says
Letting Mike Dawson turn down salary increase would violate the law, official says in court filing
asserted
official → refuse → filing
The House of Commons says it had no choice but to increase the salary of a New Brunswick MP, whether he wanted the raise or not.
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he → say → raise
In an affidavit filed in Federal Court, House clerk Eric Janse says all members of Parliament must be paid the amounts set out in legislation, and it would be illegal and inconvenient to deviate from that.
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it → file → that
Miramichi-Grand Lake Conservative MP Mike Dawson filed an application for judicial review in Federal Court in June, trying to stop Parliament from awarding him the $8,800 raise.
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Dawson → file → raise
Janse filed his affidavit in response last month.
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Janse → file → response
“The House Administration is of the view that the applicant's sessional allowance must, as a matter of law, be paid in the amount prescribed by the Parliament of Canada Act, including all applicable annual adjustments,” it says.
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it → pay → adjustments
Allowing Dawson to turn down the increase would also require House staff “to undertake administrative measures” for Dawson alone “to establish and maintain a separate calculation of the Applicant's sessional allowance” every year for as long as he’s an MP.
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he → allow → allowance
The base salary for members of Parliament was $208,900 last year and rose April 1 to $217,700.
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salary → rise → 217,700
Under federal legislation, MP pay is indexed to a formula based on private-sector salary hikes.
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pay → index → hikes
N.B. Conservative MP goes to court to fight his own pay raise
Conservative MP refusing pay bump
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MP → go → bump
Dawson believes it’s wrong to accept an $8,800 raise when many Canadians are struggling with the cost of living.
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Canadians → believe → living
Dawson said that as a business owner, he was expected to easily deduct federal taxes from his employees’ pay and this shouldn�’t be any more complicated.
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this → say → pay
“We seem to be all right to put somebody on the moon, but we can’t stop a pay raise,” he said.
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he → seem → raise
“Everything’s electronic for pay.
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Everything → ’ → pay
It’s just a matter of clicking a button.”
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It → ’ → button
The first-term MP has been donating his raise to charity but said he should be allowed to object to it altogether.
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he → donate → it
Olivier Duhaime, a spokesperson for House of Commons Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia, said neither Scarpaleggia nor Janse would grant an interview about the case.
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Scarpaleggia → say → case
Duhaime said full legal arguments in the case are expected to be filed in the next two months.
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arguments → say → months
