The Official Opposition publicly called out the governing PCs Monday, over a pay raise given to deputy ministers, among others – long before a wage freeze was supposed to end.

Without fanfare, the province approved a seven percent pay hike for deputy ministers and other political appointees, including those in the premier’s office, a year and a half early.

Back in February 2013, the Redford PCs announced a wage freeze for managers, in an effort to get finances in order – the freeze was supposed to last three years.

“It’s pretty clear to me that this is a way to get a quick pay raise through before the next leader has to take ownership of it,” Wildrose MLA and Finance Critic Rob Anderson  said.

It’s a move the Canadian Taxpayer’s Federation also didn’t agree with.

“We’re now going to give a seven percent raise to the well-paid political appointees in government,” Derek Fildebrandt said. “That’s an incredible thing to do at a time where we’re borrowing $4.8 billion a year, $10.1 billion in debt.”

Finance Minister Doug Horner would not speak to CTV News about the raise, a spokesperson explained the raise was approved to equal the deal with the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees.

“This is a standard practice in the Government of Alberta,” Jessica Jacobs-Mino with the Ministry of Finance said. “In the interest of fairness, to extend whatever deal is ratified with AUPE to involve all Government of Alberta employees.”

It’s the second raise senior officials have received since 2009.

CTV News gauged reaction from the three candidates in the PC Leadership race. Thomas Lukaszuk, Ric McIver and Jim Prentice all said they disagreed with the raise.

Candidate Ric McIver said he was disappointed, and said it was the opposite of ‘leading by example’, and the ‘opposite of building trust.’

Lukaszuk said he was troubled by the news, said he wanted to drive salaries down, not raise them if he becomes premier, and said he would overturn the decision if need be, and if he’s elected premier.

Prentice issued a statement to CTV News, saying in part: “[I] would reinstate the legislated management salary freeze until a full review is complete."

With files from Sarah Richter