Ontario’s Sunshine List has been released. The top four earning public sector employees are all from Ontario Power Generation. In Grey Bruce, the region’s top earner remains Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Arra.
Generally, locally, top paid public employees are chief administrative officers, police chiefs and health executives.
The publication of salaries is a requirement of the 1996 Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act which mandates the publication of all public sector salaries over $100,000. The salary figures include overtime, severance and bonuses among other things.
It includes employees of the Government of Ontario, Crown agencies, municipalities, hospitals, boards of public health, school boards, universities and colleges, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and other public sector employers who receive a significant level of funding from the province.
The top earning public employee in the province was was the same as last year– OPG’s Kenneth Hartwick, who made over $1.6 million.
Locally, Grey Bruce MOH Dr. Ian Arra was the highest earning public sector employee again this year. According to the Sunshine List, Arra made $514,572, down from the previous year.
The year before, in 2020, Arra made $631,510— a salary some people criticized as too high.
Those 2020 earnings, it was explained by the Board of Health in 2021, were due to extensive overtime hours (1,412 overtime hours in 2020) through the pandemic.
The Board noted at that time, the MOH is paid a salary according to the MOH/AMOH Salary Grid and paid for overtime. It also noted in 2021, there are certain legislated duties that can only be performed by a Medical Officer of Health or an Acting/Associate MOH appointed by the Minister of Health.
It was noted at a board meeting on April 23rd, 2021, the health unit had a Physician Consultant who was instrumental in the response to the first wave of the pandemic, it said, “The first step of the process (the appointment by the Board as an Associate Medical Officer of Health) was completed, however the second step (receiving Ministerial approval) was not completed.”
In May of 2021, the Board of Health noted at its regular meeting, “The MOH’s base rate is 1,820 hours annually. The MOH worked 1,412 overtime hours in 2020. The total (regular and overtime) for the year was 3,232 hours.”
Meanwhile, the next highest paid person at the health unit in 2021 was physician consultant Dr. Rim Zayed at $201,282. Over two dozen people working at Public Health Grey Bruce made the list.
Grey Bruce Health Services, which operates several hospitals in the region’s top paid person was President and CEO Gary Sims at $334,662 up from $309,217 the year before. Well over 100 public sector employees made the Sunshine List at Grey Bruce Health Services.
South Bruce Grey Health Centre had about 47 people on the list. President and CEO Michael Barrett topped that hospital organization’s list at $226,314.
Hanover and District Hospital had about 20 public sector workers on the list with President and CEO Dana Howes topping the list at $174,714.
The Bluewater District School Board’s top earner was Director of Education Lori Wilder at $257,002 followed by Superintendent of Business Services/Treasurer Rob Cummings at $185,001. With over 550 people working for the board of education on the list in 2021, it is the organization with the most people making over $100,000 annually, locally.
The Bruce Grey Catholic District School Board’s top earner was Director of Education Gary O’Donnell at $182,830. There were about 160 people on the Catholic Board who made the list.
In Owen Sound, Police Chief Craig Ambrose topped the list at $193,010, followed by City Manager Tim Simmonds $192,850. Now retired Fire Chief Doug Barfoot was third highest paid at $186,703.
Ten Kincardine municipal staff made the list with the highest paid being CAO Sharon Chambers at $162,321.
Huron Kinloss had seven people on the list with top earner CAO Maryrose Walden at $155,897.
Arran-Elderslie had four on the list. Treasurer Tracey Neifer was highest paid at $110,590.
Brockton had four on the list with CAO Sonya Watson top paid at $170,650.
About 30 people in Saugeen Shores made the list, with Police Chief Kevin Zettel making the most at $182,399 followed by CAO Kara Van Myall at $176,052.
In Northern Bruce Peninsula, three people made the list. CAO Margaret Van Mierlo-West topped it a $134,840.
The Town of South Bruce Peninsula has eight people on the list this year, topped by CAO Bill Jones at $130,958.
In Hanover 12 people made the list. Police Chief Christopher Knoll topped the list of municipal employees at $182,624. He was followed by CAO/Clerk Brian Tocheri at $155,978.
About 20 people working for the Town of the Blue Mountains were on the list. Top paid was CAO Shawn Everitt at $205,711.
In West Grey, about 17 people made the list. Highest paid was Police Chief Robert Martin at $168,307 followed by CAO Laura Johnston at $159,366.
In Grey Highlands, five employees were on the list with CAO Karen Govan at the top, earning $167,469.
Six people working for the Municipality of Meaford made the list with CAO Robert Armstrong at the top, making $165,764.
Five people at Georgian Bluffs made the list. Top paid was CAO Al Meneses at $142,161, he has since left the post and the new CAO is Cynthia Fletcher.
Southgate had two people on the list CAO David Milliner was top earner at $136,741.
Chatsworth had one person on the list, CAO Patty Sinnamon at $133,664.
Over 50 people at Bruce County made the list. CAO Sandra Datars Bere topped that list at $199,888 but she has since departed to work in another community. Derrick Thompson will take on the job starting April 18th, 2022. The second highest paid was Director of Paramedic Services for Bruce County Steve Schaus at $150,424.
Of the roughly 70 people at Grey County who made the list, the top paid person is CAO Kim Wingrove at $212,433, Followed by Human Resources Manager Sandra Shipley at $159,344, followed by Director of Paramedic Services Kevin McNab at $154,029.