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On paper, Alberta’s MLAs seem to have a cushy workday.

The daily legislative sitting doesn’t start until 1:30 in the afternoon and often wraps up by suppertime.

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Not bad for a job where the base salary starts at close to $130,000 a year.

The reality, of course, is a day that can include committee meetings, caucus meetings, constituency work, public appearances and, in the case of MLAs from outside of Edmonton, travel time. And there are also, at times, night sittings.

Wildrose Leader Brian Jean, for example, says his MLAs regularly start work at 6 or 7 in the morning.

So, if Wildrose MLAs are ready to work long days, why is the party raising such a fuss over an NDP motion to start the legislative sitting at 9 a.m.?

It is a bit of a head scratcher, especially when you consider the Wildrose itself proposed a 10 a.m. start to the workday shortly after the spring election.

Starting legislative work earlier in the day would likely mean fewer night sittings and make life a bit easier for MLAs with young families, especially women who, despite our societal advances on the home front, tend to be saddled with more of the domestic chores.