Ontario has released its annual Sunshine List, revealing that over 375,000 publicly-paid employees in the province earned more than $100,000 in 2024. This year’s list, released on March 28, 2025, marks a significant increase from the previous year, which saw approximately 300,000 individuals making the cut.
The highest earners on the list are all associated with Ontario Power Generation (OPG), with President and CEO Kenneth Hartwick leading the pack with a staggering salary of over $2 million. Following him are Nicolle Butcher, OPG’s Chief Operations Officer, who earned $978,380.20, and Steve Gregoris, the Chief Nuclear Officer, with a salary of $919,310.33.
Phil Verster, who recently departed from his role as CEO of Metrolinx, made a notable appearance on the list, earning $883,990.63 in 2024, along with an additional $13,826.58 in taxable benefits. Kevin Smith, the President and CEO of the University Health Network, closely follows Verster with earnings of $883,097.20.
The Sunshine List, which began in 1996, aims to provide transparency regarding public sector salaries, allowing taxpayers to see where their money is being allocated. The list includes a diverse range of employees, from high-paid executives to professors, firefighters, and transit operators. Total compensation is considered, including overtime and severance payments.
According to the Bank of Canada’s inflation calculator, the value of $100,000 in 1996 translates to over $180,000 in 2023 money. This year, approximately 22,530 individuals on the list exceed that inflation-adjusted threshold. Despite the significant increase in the number of high earners, the Ontario government has indicated that it has no plans to update the salary threshold to reflect the rising cost of living.
Treasury Board President Caroline Mulroney noted that nearly half of the growth in the Sunshine List was driven by the school board sector, with teachers accounting for 87% of this increase. “The Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act, 1996 requires organizations that receive public funding from the Province of Ontario to make public, by March 31 each year, the names, positions, salaries, and total taxable benefits of employees paid $100,000 or more in the previous calendar year,” Mulroney explained.
The list shows a remarkable trend, with the number of individuals earning over $100,000 jumping from 267,000 in 2022 to 300,680 in 2023, and now surpassing 375,000 in 2024. This upward trajectory raises questions among taxpayers about the sustainability of such salaries in the public sector.
Notably, the salaries of public sector employees on the list collectively amount to over $50 billion. OPG alone accounted for 10,007 names on the list, with their combined salaries reaching around $1.68 billion. Six of the top ten earners were OPG employees, indicating the dominance of this Crown corporation within the public salary landscape.
In addition to the top earners from OPG, several healthcare executives also made the top ten list. Ronald Cohn, President and CEO of the Hospital for Sick Children, earned $870,013.40, while Matthew Anderson, CEO of Ontario Health, received $823,200.19. These figures highlight the competitive salaries in the healthcare sector, which has seen significant financial pressure amid ongoing challenges in the public health system.
The list also includes notable salaries from educational institutions. Conestoga College President John Tibbits earned $636,106.70, Humber College President Ann Marie Vaughan made $497,880.32, and Seneca College President David Agnew earned $459,778.83. These figures reflect the growing salaries in the education sector, which have also been influenced by collective bargaining agreements and salary adjustments.
Interestingly, the Office of the Premier had 47 individuals on the Sunshine List, with six earning more than Premier Doug Ford, who made $208,974 in 2024. His chief of staff, Patrick Sackville, topped that list with a salary of $328,098. This disparity raises eyebrows, especially considering that the salaries of the Premier and Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) have been frozen since 2008.
In contrast, while MPPs in Ontario earn less than Toronto city councillors, who have recently voted to increase their salaries for the first time since 2006, the Premier signaled that a review of salary structures may be forthcoming. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow earned $225,093 last year, while Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiew earned $394,228, but was outpaced by TPS Sergeant Chung Wong, who earned $428,232.
York Regional Police Chief James MacSween emerged as the highest-paid police chief in the province, with a salary of $415,230, indicating the competitive nature of compensation within law enforcement as well.
As the Sunshine List continues to grow, it remains a focal point for discussions about public sector compensation and accountability in Ontario. The sheer number of high earners raises questions about equity and the effective use of taxpayer dollars, especially as inflation continues to impact the cost of living.
In summary, the Sunshine List serves as a critical tool for transparency in public spending, but it also highlights the need for ongoing discussions about salary structures and the implications for taxpayers. With the increasing number of high earners, the Ontario government may need to reconsider its approach to public sector salaries as it navigates the complexities of budgetary constraints and public expectations.
