Reports that MPs and federally appointed judges are in line for a 10% pay hike have set off a firestorm of criticism. Conservative Leader Stephen Harper has called for an independent commission to determine pay raises for MPs.

"For far too long, compensation for MPs has been done arbitrarily and without proper consultation," Harper said in a prepared statement. "I propose that they bring forward legislation that would decouple MP salaries from the judiciary."

The federal pay commission is recommending, against the wishes of the government, that 1,100 federally appointed judges be given a 10% pay raise, plus a cost-of-living increase in each of the next three years, retroactive to April. Most judges would get about $244,000 a year.

Under current rules, MPs get the same pay hike rates as the judiciary, and they would be paid about $151,000 annually.

On average, Canadians receive 2.5% annual pay hikes.

NDP MP Pat Martin said accepting the hefty raise would be like "poking" Canadians in the eye. "MPs are very fairly compensated as it is, and we can't, in all good conscience, accept one penny more than we're offering the public sector employees in negotiations," Martin said, referring to the 2.25% pay hike being offered to striking federal public servants.

Three years ago, MPs voted themselves 20% raises, then tied their future salary hikes to rates given to the federal judiciary.