Surrey Green Timbers New Democrat MLA Sue Hammell announced today that she will make her first contribution from her MLA pay increase to support the advanced education of two graduating secondary students in her riding. 

“The individual B.C. Liberal MLAs could have defeated the pay bill last week but they refused to do so. Clearly, they were more interested in fattening their own pockets than being on the right side of the issue,” said Hammell.

“Under the leadership of Carole James, every member of the NDP caucus has committed to donating the increase in pay under the Campbell Liberals’ MLA pay increase legislation to charitable causes. I am proud to do my part by supporting students in my community,” said Hammell.Sue Hammell 

Hammell said that the recipients of her two $500 bursaries, Davinder Akali and Mahmud Dewan, recently graduated respectively from LA Matheson and Queen Elizabeth Secondary Schools. The winners were picked by their school scholarship committee and the bursaries will help them with their further education. 

“The MLA pay hike flies in the face of the realities faced every day by the majority of British Columbians.  

“At a time that students in B.C. find themselves buried under massive student debt and when exorbitant tuition fees are making advanced education a mere dream for most youngsters, a pay increase like this one simply can’t be explained,” said Hammell.

Sue Hammell

Surrey-Green Timbers

Sue Hammell was re-elected as the MLA for Surrey-Green Timbers on May 12, 2009 She was first elected in 1991, was re-elected in 1996 and re-elected