Members’ Compensation Review Committee Appointed for the 51st General Assembly

  • House of Assembly

June 15, 2026

On June 2, 2026, the House of Assembly passed a resolution to appoint Heather M. Jacobs, KC, effective June 15, to conduct a Members’ compensation review in the 51st General Assembly. This review is required at least once in each general assembly in accordance with the House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act (the Act).

The mandate of the Members’ Compensation Review Committee (MCRC) in accordance with the Act is to conduct an inquiry and provide recommendations respecting the salaries, allowances, severance and pensions paid to Members of the House of Assembly. The Act also requires consultation between the Speaker, the Government House Leader, the Official Opposition House Leader and the Third Party prior to the appointment of the MCRC. The approach recommended in the resolution passed by the House is further to that consultation.

The Committee for the 50th General Assembly delivered its final report entitled “How We Value Democracy” in April 2024. Some matters contained in that report were considered by the Management Commission, but the Assembly dissolved before matters required to be considered by the House of Assembly were addressed.

The resolution passed on June 2 directs that the MCRC Report for the 50th General Assembly shall form the basis of the report for the 51st Assembly, given the recency of the work and analysis completed for the 2024 review. The resolution also directs that the Committee shall:

  • review, update, revise or replace any of its previous recommendations, where appropriate; and
  • ensure that consultation is completed which includes current Members of the House of Assembly, former Members of the House of Assembly, and any other interested parties.

The MCRC must deliver its report to the Speaker within 120 days. Any recommendations will then be considered by the House of Assembly Management Commission in accordance with the process prescribed in the Act.

Quote
“The appointment of Ms. Jacobs by resolution of the House to conduct this review was further to consultation required by the Act between the Speaker, the Government House Leader, the Opposition House Leader and the Third Party. There was agreement with the approach for the 51st General Assembly MCRC review as prescribed by the resolution, and that Ms. Jacobs’ extensive experience in the public service will be an asset for this review. On behalf of the House of Assembly, I extend thanks to her for taking on this work.”
Honourable Paul Lane, MHA
Speaker of the House of Assembly

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Media contact
Kimberly Ryan
House of Assembly
709-729-6943
kimberlyryan@assembly.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER

Biography
Heather M. Jacobs, KC completed the Members’ Compensation Review in the 50th General Assembly, authoring the report entitled “How We Value Democracy” dated April 2024. She served as Deputy Minister of the Department of Justice and Public Safety on three occasions from 2015 to 2022. Prior to that time, Ms. Jacobs also served as Assistant Deputy Minister in the Department of Justice and Public Safety for nine years, managed the Government Services Unit within the Civil Division of the Department of Justice for four years, and served as a solicitor in the Civil Division for 13 years. Ms. Jacobs received her Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from Memorial University in 1984 and Bachelor of Laws degree from York University (Osgoode Hall) in 1987. Ms. Jacobs was appointed Queens Counsel in 2015 and has been a practicing member of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador since 1988. She has served as a member of the Nalcor Board (as government appointee) and sat independently in 2018. She has also served as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Oil and Gas Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador and a member of the Board of the RNC Foundation.

Resolution passed by the House of Assembly 

WHEREAS subsection 16(1) of the House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act (“the Act”) requires the appointment of an independent committee, named the Members’ Compensation Review Committee, to conduct an inquiry and prepare a report respecting salaries, allowances, severance and pensions to be paid to MHAs once every General Assembly;

AND WHEREAS some matters contained in the MCRC 2024 Report entitled “How We Value Democracy” were considered by the Management Commission, but matters required to be considered by the House of Assembly were not addressed before the end of the 50th General Assembly;

AND WHEREAS in accordance with subsection 16(2) of the Act, the Speaker has consulted with the Government House Leader, the Opposition House Leader and the Third Party on the appointment to the said Committee; and

AND WHEREAS the Government House Leader, the Opposition House Leader and Third Party have agreed with the introduction of this resolution; and

AND WHEREAS under subsection 16(4) of the Act a Members’ Compensation Review Committee appointed under this resolution must report to the Speaker on its recommendations within 120 days of its appointment;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

(1) THAT Heather Jacobs, KC, is appointed to the Members’ Compensation Review Committee with the appointment to be effective June 15, 2026;

(2) THAT in accordance with section 16 of the Act, the Members’ Compensation Review Committee shall inquire into and prepare a report respecting the salaries, allowances, severance and pensions to be paid to the Members of the House of Assembly;

(3) THAT in particular, the Committee shall:

(a) recommend the annual salary for Members of the House of Assembly; (b) review and make recommendations regarding additional salary provisions for positions identified in subsection 12(1) of the House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act; (c) recommend a formula or means for making annual salary adjustments for salary amounts referenced in clauses (a) and (b) above; and (d) review and make any recommendations regarding the current transitional allowance policy for Members of the House of Assembly;

(4) AND THAT the MCRC Report for the 50th General Assembly entitled “How We Value Democracy” shall form the basis of the MCRC Report for the 51st General Assembly;

(5) AND THAT the Committee shall:

(a) review, update, revise or replace any of its previous recommendations, where appropriate; and

(b) ensure that consultation is completed which includes current Members of the House of Assembly, former Members of the House of Assembly, and any other interested parties.

2026 06 15 12:30 pm