BC PUBLIC SERVICE RAISES

The salaries of every deputy and assistant deputy minister in the BC Public Service have now been reviewed and decisions have been made on the actual salary levels assigned to each individual executive member under the new compensation framework introduced in August.

As a result of this review, effective Aug. 1 the average actual pay for deputy ministers is $217,758, representing an average increase of just over seven per cent. The average salary under the new framework for assistant deputy ministers is $157,608, representing an average increase of 21 per cent. The deputy minister to the Premier has opted not to accept any increase in salary at this time.

The increases provided also reflect that the value of the salary holdback has been increased from five per cent to 10 per cent of each executive’s annual pay. The holdback of each executive’s salary is dependent on their performance on a series of specific measures linked to building the corporate human resources of the BC Public Service. In real terms, that means on average up to almost $22,000 of deputy minister salaries and $16,000 in assistant deputy minister salaries are at risk if performance measures are not met. B.C. is the only jurisdiction to have such a system in place to ensure ongoing performance.

Prior to the 2008 adjustment, assistant deputy minister salaries ranked tenth in Canada among other provinces and the federal government, and deputy minister salaries ranked sixth. Under the new framework, the maximum achievable salaries for both levels of executives in B.C. rank third in Canada, providing greater flexibility to be competitive in a tight labour market.

With the decisions on actual salary levels, the actual average salaries for B.C. deputy ministers and assistant deputy ministers are estimated to now rank fifth amongst the other Canadian jurisdictions. From now on, the deputy minister compensation framework will be set at 83 per cent of federal salaries and will be subject to the same regular review cycle to ensure ongoing competitiveness.

Forecasts show that within 10 years over 65 per cent of assistant deputy ministers and 51 per cent of deputy ministers will be eligible to retire. In a tight labour market, compensation levels are one key factor in ensuring the BC Public Service is able to recruit and retain suitably qualified senior professionals.