Indemnities and Allowances
Members of the National Assembly receive remuneration in the form of indemnities and various allowances:
Groups of Ridings
For some of the following allowances, the amounts vary according to the group (1 to 5) to which the riding belongs, since Québec’s 125 ridings are divided into 5 groups based on their physical size.
For instance, the smaller urban ridings are in group 1, while the very large ridings in rural areas are in group 4. The ridings of Duplessis and Ungava, which are exceptionally large, are in group 5.
Consult the list of riding groups (PDF, 59 Kb, in French)
Basic Annual Indemnity
Under section 1 of the Act respecting the conditions of employment and the pension plan of the Members of the National Assembly, MNAs receive a basic annual indemnity set at $86,242 on April 1, 2012.
The annual indemnity is increased by the same percentage as the salaries of senior executive officers in the public service, as of the effective dates of the new salary scales.
Additional Indemnity for Parliamentary Office Holders
MNAs who hold parliamentary or ministerial office receive an additional indemnity that corresponds to a percentage of their basic annual indemnity.
If an MNA holds two or more positions for which an additional indemnity is granted, he or she is entitled only to the higher indemnity.
Table of additional indemnities — April 1, 2012
| Parliamentary office | Percentage of the basic indemnity | Additional indemnity | Total remuneration |
| Premier |
105% |
$90,554
|
$176,796
|
| Minister (including the Government House Leader) |
75% |
$64,682
|
$150,924
|
| President (Speaker) of the National Assembly |
75% |
$64,682
|
$150,924
|
| Vice-President (Deputy Speaker) of the National Assembly |
35% |
$30,185
|
$116,427
|
| Leader of the Official Opposition |
75% |
$64,682
|
$150,924
|
| Leader of the Second Opposition Group |
35% |
$30,185
|
$116,427
|
| Official Opposition House Leader |
35% |
$30,185
|
$116,427
|
| Chief Government Whip |
35% |
$30,185
|
$116,427
|
| Chief Official Opposition Whip |
30% |
$25,873
|
$112,115
|
| Deputy Government House Leader |
25% |
$21,561
|
$107,803
|
| Deputy Official Opposition House Leader |
20% |
$17,248
|
$103,490
|
| Deputy Government Whip |
20% |
$17,248
|
$103,490
|
| Deputy Official Opposition Whip |
20% |
$17,248
|
$103,490
|
| Chair of the Government Caucus |
25% |
$21,561
|
$107,803
|
| Chair of the Official Opposition Caucus |
22,5% |
$19,404
|
$105,646
|
| Parliamentary Assistant |
20% |
$17,248
|
$103,490
|
| Standing Committee Chair |
25% |
$21,561
|
$107,803
|
| Standing Committee Vice-Chair |
20% |
$17,248
|
$103,490
|
| Temporary Chair of a Standing Committee |
15% |
$12,936
|
$99,178
|
| Member of the Office of the National Assembly |
15% |
$12,936
|
$99,178
|
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Annual Expense Allowance
MNAs receive an annual expense allowance for the reimbursement of expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, including meal and accommodation expenses in their riding or outside Québec City, representation expenses, etc.
The allowance is adjusted on January 1 every year based on the Consumer Price Index for Canada established by Statistics Canada. As at January 1, 2012, the allowance was $15,895.
Allowance for Travel in Ridings and Elsewhere in Québec
MNAs are entitled to a monthly allowance for travel expenses, including expenses for travel within their riding. The amount of the allowance varies according to the group to which the riding belongs.
For the period from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013, the annual travel allowance for political activities in Québec is as follows:
| Riding Group | MNA’s Annual allowance |
| 1 |
$7,700 |
| 2 |
$8,600 |
| 3 |
$12,500 |
| 4 |
$17,200 |
| 5 |
$19,200 |
Additional Allowance
Due to certain constraints and characteristics unique to their ridings, 4 MNAs are entitled to an additional allowance.
The Member for Îles-de-la-Madeleine, a group 2 riding, receives an additional allowance of $2,600 per year.
The Members for Berthier, Duplessis and Ungava are also entitled to an additional allowance, which is paid on presentation of vouchers for actual costs incurred for travel within their riding. This allowance enables them to visit communities that are difficult or impossible to reach by land.
The additional allowance is
- $1,500 for the Member for Berthier
- $10,000 for the Member for Duplessis
- $16,000 for the Member for Ungava
Reimbursement of Travel Expenses
Reimbursement of Expenses for Travel Between a Riding and the Parliament Building
On presentation of vouchers, the National Assembly reimburses the expenses incurred by MNAs for travel between their riding offices and the Parliament Building.
MNAs who travel by plane, bus or train may be reimbursed for the cost of an economy class ticket as well as related costs.
MNAs who travel by car are entitled to an allowance equal to $0.45 per kilometre between their riding office and the Parliament Building.
Number of Trips Reimbursed
MNAs are entitled to a maximum of 60 return trips per fiscal year between their riding office and the Parliament Building, including 5 return trips for their spouse or dependent children.
MNAs who hold the offices listed below are entitled to 10 additional return trips per fiscal year:
- Vice-President (Deputy Speaker) of the National Assembly
- Official Opposition House Leader or House Leader of the Second Opposition Group
- Deputy House Leader or Deputy Official Opposition House Leader
- Government Whip or Official Opposition Whip
- Deputy Government Whip or Deputy Official Opposition Whip
- Chair of the Government Caucus or Chair of the Official Opposition Caucus
- Chair or Vice–Chair of a Standing Committee
- Member of the Office of the National Assembly
MNAs representing ridings that are wholly or partially included in or are adjoining to Québec City are not entitled to the reimbursement of their expenses for travel between their riding and the Parliament Building.
Reimbursement of Accommodation Expenses in Québec City
MNAs are entitled to the reimbursement of their accommodation expenses in Québec City or the immediate vicinity, provided their principal residence is
- outside Québec City
- outside an adjoining riding, i.e. outside Chauveau, La Peltrie and Montmorency
For the period from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013, accommodation expenses are reimbursed up to $14,700.
The reimbursement covers
- the cost of renting a room in a hotel
or
- the rental of a dwelling
or
- the amount of the rental value of a secondary residence owned by the MNA or the MNA’s spouse
The reimbursement also covers
- the rental value certificate
- telephone service
- housekeeping service
- parking
- electricity
- fire, theft and liability insurance
- cable television
- monthly Internet fees
MNAs who hold the following offices are entitled to an additional amount of $3,000 annually as a reimbursement of their accommodation expenses:
- President of the National Assembly (Speaker)
- Premier
- Leader of the Official Opposition
- Leader of the Second Opposition Group
- Government House Leader, Official Opposition House Leader, House Leader of the Second Opposition Group
- Chief Government Whip, Chief Official Opposition Whip
- Chair of the Government Caucus, Chair of the Official Opposition Caucus
Budget for the Operation of a Riding Office
The amount allocated annually to MNAs for the rental and operation of a riding office varies according to the group to which the riding belongs. For the period from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013, the operation budgets are as follows:
| Riding Group | Annual Allowance |
| 1 |
$56,200 |
| 2 |
$42,600 |
| 3 |
$44,000 |
| 4 |
$50,500 |
| 5 |
$48,000 |
Consult the list of riding groups (PDF, 59 Kb, in French)
In addition to rent, MNAs may be reimbursed for the cost of
- stationery and office supplies
- newspapers and specialized databases
- postal and parcel services
- purchase or rental of photocopiers, fax machines, furniture, office equipment, decorative accessories and works of art
- GPS receivers, pagers and answering machines
- purchase and use of a cell phone
- purchase, installation, use and maintenance of an alarm system
- fire, theft, vandalism and civil liability insurance
- electricity and heating
- regular bank fees
- rental taxes
- moving and setting up
- parking and snow removal
- meet and greets or light snacks for constituents
- rental of a room in the riding
- advertising required for the operation of the riding office
- publication of informative or opinion texts or printing and distribution of bulk mail
- setting up and updating a website or blog
Property acquired using MNA allowances remains the property of the Assembly and is recorded in the inventory register of each MNA. MNAs must return the property to the Assembly when leaving office.
Members' Budget for Payroll Expenses
MNAs are granted a basic budget to cover payroll expenses. MNAs who represent group 4 or group 5 ridings and standing committee chairs and vice-chairs are granted an additional amount.
For the period from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013, the basic budget for payroll expenses is set at $159,297.
The additional amount is
- $14,559 for MNAs in group 4 ridings
- $20,132 for MNAs in group 5 ridings
- $5,427 for standing committee chairs
- $3,255 for standing committee vice-chairs
Travel expenses for MNA Staff
The annual allowance for the reimbursement of MNA staff travel expenses varies according to the group to which the riding belongs. For the period from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013, the allowance is as follows:
| Riding Group | Annual Allowance |
| 1 |
$3,017 |
| 2 |
$3,440 |
| 3 |
$4,409 |
| 4 |
$7,824 |
| 5 |
$8,379 |
Reimbursable expenses include meal and travel expenses and hotel accommodation.
House Officers’ Budget for Payroll Expenses
As with other Members, House officers have a budget for payroll expenses. This is used by each House officer to pay his or her riding and parliamentary staff.
For the period from April 1, 2012, to March 31, 2013, the budgets for the payroll expenses of House officers are as follows:
- $912,714 for the President of the Assembly
- $426,910 for each of the three Vice-Presidents
- $912,714 for the Government House Leader
- $823,763 for the Chief Government Whip
- $1,736,388 for the Leader of the Official Opposition
- $648,440 for the Official Opposition House Leader
- $816,121 for the Chief Official Opposition Whip
Budget for the Operation of a House Office
House officers also have a budget to cover their office expenses.
For the period from April 1, 2012, to March 31, 2013, these budgets are as follows:
- $100,000 for the President of the Assembly
- $15,900 for each of the three Vice-Presidents
- $33,900 for the Government House Leader
- $97,900 for the Chief Government Whip
- $264,000 for the Leader of the Official Opposition
- $26,400 for the Official Opposition House Leader
- $97,900 for the Chief Official Opposition Whip
Budgets Allocated to Political Parties for Support Staff and Research
Under section 108 of the Act respecting the National Assembly, each party represented in the Assembly following the most recent general election, as well as any independent Members, receives a budget for support staff and research. This budget is used to pay staff and the expenses related to research.
For the period from April 1, 2012, to March 31, 2013, the the budgets for the political parties represented in the National Assembly and the independent Members who requested one are as follows:
- $791,900 for the Quebec Liberal Party
- $666,100 for the Parti québécois
- $92,100 for Québec solidaire
- $22,900 each independent Members
Additional information