The yearly Sunshine List has come out to disclose public sector salaries for those earning more than $100,000 in 2018.
Windsor Regional Hospital's (WRH) CEO David Musyj was the highest paid of all local public sector employees in 2018. Musyj earned almost $436,000 last year. The hospital reported 319 employees made over $100,000 in 2018.
“The Board of Directors of Windsor Regional Hospital recognizes that compensation has to be fair and reasonable for all staff at the hospital as well as comparable to that of other healthcare institutions across Ontario," stated Dan Wilson, chair of the WRH Board of Directors. "Competitive employee compensation levels allow us to attract and keep the best organizational leaders and employees.”
The other top local earners last year were former University of Windsor President Alan Wildeman at just over $366,000, Interim University of Windsor President Douglas Kneale at almost $330,000, Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare CEO Janice Kaffer at just over $314,000, and St. Clair College President Patti France at just over $300,000.
At the City of Windsor, Police Chief Al Frederick earned just over $279,000, Chief Financial Officer Onorio Collucci was just behind him making slightly higher than $278,000, and Helga Reidel made just over $278,000 as CEO of Enwin. Mayor Drew Dilkens made just over $113,000.
The top earner at the County of Essex in 2018 was CAO Robert Maisonville earning almost $193,000.
Director of Education Erin Kelly was the biggest earner at the Greater Essex County District School Board making nearly $261,000.
At the Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board, Director of Education Terry Lyons made the most at nearly $238,000.
At the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed topped the list at around $259,000.
The province said the total number of employees disclosed continued to grow in 2018, increasing by 19,131 employees, or 14.5 per cent.
Windsor Justice Micheline Rawlins made just over $297,000, Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Percy Hatfield was paid just over $136,000, Windsor West MPP Lisa Gretzky earned nearly $124,000, and Essex MPP Taras Natyshak made almost $122,000.
The number of employees earning more than $100,000 at the agencies that make up Ontario Health has also grown from 138 in 2003 to 1,469 in 2018; a 964.5 per cent increase.
"With more than half of government expenses going towards wages, we will continue to review compensation costs through the lens of sustainability," said Peter Bethlenfalvy, president of the Treasury Board. "In order to protect public services, we need to consider new approaches to compensation and reform public services in a way that puts reliability and the taxpayer at the centre of everything we do. To do this, we must put structures in place that create a culture of efficiency and balance the need to attract necessary talent with respect for taxpayer dollars."
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said the Sunshine List is only going to get worse.
“If people don’t like 2018’s Sunshine List, they’re in for a shock when the 2019 list reveals the full list of ticket holders on the Ford gravy train," she said.
She added Ontarians deserve to see their public dollars invested wisely on the frontlines of services they depend on, like health care and education.
