Klondike MLA Peter Jenkins wants the government to review the indemnities, salaries and allowances of the Yukon's elected representatives.

In a motion tabled on Tuesday in the legislature, the now-former Yukon Party cabinet minister asked that a four-person special committee be formed to look at the rates of pay. It would then report back to the assembly by the spring sitting.

Following question period, Jenkins said the current structure of salaries and allowances doesn't make sense.

'I'm going to net out more money as a backbencher than as a cabinet minister,' he said.

Jenkins took a $21,147 pay cut when he crossed the floor to sit as an independent on Nov. 28.

Ministers are paid $77,298 a year, while MLAs for rural areas net $56,151.

However, the wording of the Yukon's Legislative Assembly Act, which provides for MLAs' salaries, rent, travel and other expenditures, grants larger allowances to backbenchers living in rural areas than it does to ministers and representatives from Whitehorse.

'(Jenkins) will be better off now,' said Patrick Michael, clerk of the legislative assembly. 'Much better off.'

Anyone serving in cabinet is automatically deemed to live in Whitehorse and because of that, loses many of the allowances granted to a rural MLA.

Rural MLAs are able to claim reimbursement for their accommodation in Whitehorse at a rate of $778 per month.

They're also able to have up to 48 return trips to their riding paid for, as well as an additional $8,800 in accommodation and living expenses, such as meals.

Ministers are only granted 24 return trips and an annual allowance of $4,400.

Rural backbenchers also qualify for sessional travel which qualifies them '...for payment of expenses when absent from the member's normal place of residence to attend a sitting of the legislative assembly.'

While serving as Environment minister and Health and Social Services minister in the Yukon Party government, from April 2004 until March 2005, Jenkins claimed a total of $25,691.20 in travel and rent expenses.

He used the entire amount allocated to him in rent, totalling $9,336.

He used all 24 trips to his riding at a cost of $511.10 each and made eight more additional trips to Dawson which would have been deducted from his $4,400 allowance. The travel totalled $13,288.60.

'He is now a resident of Dawson for his purposes,' said Michael. 'It adds up to a heck of a lot more money.'

Jenkins said he is interested in having a review of the pay and allowance structure now, because 'in all likelihood (he'll) be here for next session.'

However, when the NDP tabled the Democratic Reform Act in October 2004, which included direction to examine current allowances for indemnification, the Yukon Party, along with Jenkins, voted against it.

NDP Leader Todd Hardy said he doesn't see Jenkins' motion going anywhere in the near future. Discussions around MLAs' rate of pay and allowances have been ongoing for at least a decade, he added.

But it is an issue that 'needs to be addressed,' said Hardy. 'There are some concerns and there's some legitimate complainants.'

Michael said one of the ongoing challenges for the legislature is to have a pay rate that encourages people to consider running for politics while they are likely at the peak point of their careers elsewhere, but to not have the rate so high that it attracts people for the wages alone.

The Yukon is third from the bottom of the list when compared to the rest of Canada on solely the base salary given to MLAs. In the Yukon, it is $37,434.

The highest-paid MLAs are in Quebec, where they get a tax-free allowance of $98,671.

The lowest-paid elected representatives reside in Prince Edward Island, where the pay is $36,689.

In the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, the MLAs are making $85,021 and $67,530, respectively.

Premier Dennis Fentie is the highest paid elected representative in the Yukon. However, he still makes less than MLAs in the N.W.T.; with his salary and other indemnities and allowances, he makes approximately $82,655 annually.

But it's very difficult for members to discuss their pay, said Michael, because of the spotlight it often takes in the media and the eyes of the public.

Hardy said the best way to examine the concerns is to form an independent body.

Jenkins' motion requested the committee be formed from members of the assembly and be chaired by Speaker Ted Staffen.

'I don't think legislators should be debating their own salary,' said Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell.

Mitchell agrees with Hardy that the best way to examine the issue would be with an 'arm's-length commission.'

He added any review of salary and indemnities should be focused on looking at what's done in other jurisdictions in Canada.

The current indemnification package is 'outdated', but legislators debating that only serve to make the public 'very cynical', he said.

'If (Jenkins) feel he's overpaid now, he could apply it to his loan,' said Mitchell. 'I think (he's being) hypocritical.'