Liberals and Conservatives found rare common ground in the Ontario legislature on Thursday, overriding NDP objections to vote all MPPs a 25-per-cent pay hike.

The New Democrats were the only members to vote against the $22,000 increase in base pay, which raises the minimum salary for all members to $110,000 a year.

The legislation gives cabinet ministers a $31,000 increase to $157,633 a year, while Premier Dalton McGuinty gets a $39,000 raise to $198,620.

McGuinty said it's only fair that provincial members get a raise to about 75 per cent of the salary paid to members of Parliament, who represent the same ridings.

The Liberals and Tories say the higher salaries will stop members from leaving for greener pastures federally or municipally, and will help them attract higher-quality candidates.

The New Democrats said the big pay raise, coming just four days before Christmas, shows just how out of touch the Liberal government really is.

With files from the Canadian Press