How Much Do MPs Get Paid in Canada?
Every Member of Parliament earns a base salary set by law, and some earn more depending on the roles they hold. Here is what that pay actually looks like — and what it does and does not include.
The Base Salary: The Sessional Indemnity
Every MP receives the same base salary, called the sessional indemnity, regardless of party or seniority. It is approximately $210,000 per year as of 2025. The figure is not fixed — it increases automatically every April 1 under a formula set out in the Parliament of Canada Act, tied to the average increase in major private-sector union settlements the year before. That is why the number creeps up year over year without a new law or a vote by MPs themselves.
For the exact current figure, the House of Commons publishes official numbers directly: ourcommons.ca — Indemnities, Salaries and Allowances.
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Extra Pay for Additional Roles
MPs who hold additional positions receive top-up pay on top of the base sessional indemnity:
- The Prime Minister — earns roughly double the base MP salary, reflecting the added responsibility of leading government.
- Cabinet ministers — receive a significant top-up for running a federal department, on top of their MP salary.
- The Speaker of the House — earns extra pay for presiding over debates and enforcing House rules.
- The Leader of the Opposition — also receives a top-up, recognizing the formal accountability role of leading the largest non-governing party.
Committee chairs and parliamentary secretaries can also receive smaller top-ups. Every additional amount is layered on top of the same base sessional indemnity every MP receives.
The MP Pension
MPs are enrolled in a pension plan under the Members of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act. It vests after six years of service — an MP defeated or retiring before six years receives a return of contributions rather than an ongoing pension. Both the MP and the federal government contribute, and the eventual pension amount depends on years served and final average salary, similar in structure to other public-sector defined-benefit pensions.
Office and Travel Budgets Are Not Personal Pay
Every MP is also allocated separate budgets for a Members' Office Budget (staff salaries, riding office rent, supplies) and travel between Ottawa and their riding. These funds are administered by the House of Commons, must be spent on parliamentary and constituency business, and are not personal income — they cannot be pocketed, and unspent amounts are not paid out to the MP. Reporting on House of Commons spending, including these budgets, is published publicly.
How MP Pay Compares to the Average Canadian
The base sessional indemnity is well above the median individual income in Canada, which sits in the tens of thousands of dollars annually depending on the year and data source. The gap reflects the national scope of the job — representing an entire riding, sitting in Ottawa for much of the year, and maintaining a second residence away from home. For an exact, up-to-date comparison, Statistics Canada publishes current income data separately from the House of Commons salary figures above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do MPs get a pension?
Yes. MPs are enrolled in the Members of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act pension plan. The pension vests after six years of service — an MP who leaves before six years receives a return of their contributions rather than an ongoing pension. Both the MP and the federal government contribute to the plan.
Do MPs pay taxes?
Yes. An MP’s sessional indemnity is taxable employment income, just like any other salary, and is reported and taxed the same way. Some allowances tied to housing and travel between Ottawa and the riding follow specific federal tax rules, but the base salary itself is fully taxable.
Who decides MP salaries?
MP salaries are set out in the Parliament of Canada Act and increase automatically each April 1, indexed to the average annual increase in major private-sector union settlements from the prior year. MPs do not vote on their own raises — the formula is set in law, which is why the base salary changes slightly every year without a new bill or debate.