The ‘shadow MP,’ his salary and his pub stop with Harper

A government employee described by Liberal Irwin Cotler as his “shadow MP” working on the federal payroll has offered some clues about his job and his publicly funded salary.

Mr. Cotler has raised concerns that Saulie Zajdel, the Conservative candidate he defeated in last year's election, is earning a government paycheque while trying to undermine him in his Montreal riding.

The Conservatives initially refused to discuss Mr. Zajdel's duties at all – let alone his salary. After several months, Heritage Minister James Moore shared some details, explaining Mr. Zajdel works in his Montreal office as a non-partisan liaison with local multiethnic communities.

Now, new details have been emerging about Mr. Zajdel's work.

He spoke publicly in Mr. Cotler's riding about Canada's relationship with Israel; he attended some events with Prime Minister Stephen Harper including a happy-hour pub stop; and he revealed he earns less than the “six digits” he hopes for.

Mr. Zajdel remarked on his salary during the Prime Minister's visit to Montreal, a trip that included an announcement a few hundred metres outside Mr. Cotler's Mount Royal riding last week.