Paying for Talent: B.C. Conservative Leader Rustad Urges Higher Salaries to Attract Better Politicians

Vancouver, B.C. — B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad is calling for increased compensation for politicians, arguing that current salaries fall short of attracting the calibre of candidates needed to lead the province effectively.
Speaking at the Canada Strong and Free Network conference on Thursday, Rustad didn’t mince words: “You pay peanuts, you get monkeys.” He emphasized that politics is struggling to recruit talented individuals, particularly those in their prime earning years, because of uncompetitive pay.
Rustad, who led the B.C. Conservatives to a surprising breakthrough in the 2024 election—moving from just eight seats to Official Opposition—said the issue is critical if the province wants a stronger political class. “We need entrepreneurial, smart people in their 30s and 40s who want to make a difference,” he told The Globe and Mail. “But to do that, they have to give up significant income. How do you convince them to take that leap?”
The current base salary for B.C. MLAs stands at $119,532.72. Additional responsibilities come with added compensation, including $59,766.37 for ministers and $107,579.45 for the premier. Rustad, as Leader of the Opposition, also receives a $59,766.37 top-up. By contrast, federal Members of Parliament earn $209,800 annually.
Rustad was clear: politicians should not decide their own pay. He advocated instead for an independent body to oversee salaries and prevent self-interest from clouding the process. “It’s not a popular conversation,” he admitted. “But we can’t avoid it. We need to talk about this.”
A veteran of provincial politics, Rustad was first elected in 2005 and served as Minister of Aboriginal Relations under former premier Christy Clark. After being removed from the BC Liberal caucus in 2022 for his climate change views, he joined the BC Conservatives and revived the party’s fortunes, capitalizing on voter shifts away from the rebranded BC United.
Beyond pay reform, Rustad urged conservatives to engage more deeply at the grassroots level, particularly in education. “The left controls our schools. They’re indoctrinating kids,” he warned, calling for conservative representation on school boards, city councils, and regional bodies.
Looking ahead, Rustad said his party must balance its messaging to appeal across generations. “Change shouldn’t be frightening,” he told the conference audience. “We didn’t hit the right tone in 2024, but we’ve learned. That’s our focus moving forward.”