TransLink exec compensation rises despite supposed ‘freeze’

CTV Vancouver: Translink brass get raise TransLink executives are coming under fire from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation for continued pay increases.

TransLink executives are coming under fire from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation for continued pay increases.

The Lower Mainland transit authority issued its 2013 salary disclosure documents last Friday afternoon and it shows many executives receiving “record-breaking pay”, according to the CTF.

"If that's a pay freeze, sign me up," said CTF B.C. Director Jordan Bateman in a release. "Only in TransLink's crazy world a pay freeze mean a pay raise.”

Executive compensation rose in 2013 over 2012 despite declarations from TransLink’s chair that pay levels had been frozen and bonuses eliminated.

The agency’s top paid employee last year was its CEO Ian Jarvis who made $422,406 in salary and bonuses last year, which is a seven per cent increase over 2012.

CTV News requested an interview with Jarvis but was told he was unavailable.

"I don't think the ceo needs to stand up and defend his salary." said, Colleen Brennan TransLink's Vice President of Communications. "I think the board made a decision on the CEO's salary. The board's decision stands and that's what we're here to talk about today."

Four other TransLink officials saw their pay rise between $25 and $50 thousand.

The CTF says a total of 434 people working at TransLink and its subsidiaries made more than $100,000 last year.

"Anything that was earned was earned in 2012 as a short term incentive program was paid out in 2013 so when you see bonus, it was money that was earned in 2012," said Bennan, referring to changes to its executive compensation plan that won't affect the authority's bottom line until the current fiscal year.

The coming decreases in pay range from approximately $20,000 to $40,000 per executive, according to TransLink.

With files from CTV's Scott Hurst.