Vancouver Council to Publish Single Report on Mayor and Councillor Pay

Vancouver residents will soon be able to see, in one place, exactly how much they pay their mayor and councillors.

On Wednesday, city council voted unanimously to publish a consolidated annual financial disclosure report that captures all forms of compensation received by elected officials. The move came through a motion introduced by Mayor Ken Sim, titled Strengthening Public Trust and Transparency Through Full Disclosure of Total Council Compensation.

Currently, councillors’ salaries and expenses are available, but the information is scattered across several reports and websites. Under the new system, residents will be able to access a single annual report that lists salaries, stipends, per diems, allowances, travel costs, and any other financial or in-kind benefits.

Councillors earn $104,180 a year plus a $3,048 supplement. The mayor earns $210,444, also with the supplement. Additional pay comes from external duties such as serving on Metro Vancouver’s board of directors, where members can earn $547 for a four-hour meeting and $1,094 for longer sessions.

“This change helps lead the way in accountability,” Sim said. “Taxpayers deserve clear answers about how their money is spent.”

Coun. Peter Meiszner supported the motion, adding that residents shouldn’t have to search through “10 different websites” to find the information.

Not all proposed measures made it through. Coun. Pete Fry suggested adding attendance records or “time on task” data to give a fuller picture of work performed, but the amendment was defeated. Sim and ABC councillors argued that attendance alone doesn’t reflect the complexity of the job, where elected officials often juggle overlapping responsibilities.

The first annual report is expected to make all compensation data accessible in one place, offering Vancouver taxpayers a simpler, clearer view of what their elected representatives earn.