MLA Macdonald gives away salary increase

DAVID F. ROONEY
Revelstoke Times Review

December 19 2007

MLA Norm Macdonald is putting his money where his mouth is when it comes to the pay increase he refuses to accept.

The New Democratic Party MLA for Columbia River – Revelstoke has been donating his $5,025 pay increase to community foundations and food banks in communities throughout the riding.

“You can do wonderful things with that seed money,” Macdonald told Revelstoke Community Foundation President Steven Hui as he handed him a cheque for $500 last Wednesday.

Macdonald then went on to give Food Bank Coordinator Patti Larson another $500 donation.
“I’m giving away all $5,025,” Macdonald said.

He gave identical amounts to community foundations and food banks in Golden, Kimberley and Invermere.  That leaves him with $1,025 that he will donate to the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

Macdonald was a teacher in East Africa some years ago and has long been sympathetic to the work of Lewis who was special envoy to Africa of Unitied Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan regarding HIV/AIDS.  His foundation works at the grassroots level to ease the misery of the millions of people suffer from AIDS in Africa.

Macdonald said he plans to give away his salary increase every year that he serves in the Legislature.