Ontario's 2025 Sunshine List Reveals a Surge in High-Paid Public Employees
Hey everyone, let’s talk about the latest buzz—the 2025 Sunshine List. This annual disclosure of Ontario’s public sector employees earning over $100,000 is out, and guess what? The list has grown significantly!
This year, a record-breaking 377,666 public employees made it onto the list, marking a huge jump from last year's 300,680. That’s over 70,000 additional names! If you’re wondering where these salary increases are coming from, the Treasury Board President, Caroline Mulroney, pointed out that nearly half of the new additions come from the school board sector, with teachers accounting for 87% of that growth.
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At the top of the list, once again, is Ken Hartwick, the outgoing CEO of Ontario Power Generation (OPG), who earned more than $2 million in 2024. That’s more than double the salary of the second-highest earner, another OPG executive. In fact, five of the top ten highest-paid public employees work at OPG. Other big earners include hospital presidents and CEOs of large agencies like Ontario Health and the Ontario Public Service Pension Board.
A notable name in the rankings is Phil Verster, the former CEO of Metrolinx, who resigned last December but still earned close to $884,000. Meanwhile, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow made $225,093, and Premier Doug Ford’s salary came in at $208,974. Even police chiefs made it to the top earners list, with York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween leading the way at $415,231.
Now, let’s put this in perspective. The Sunshine List was first introduced in 1996, with the salary threshold set at $100,000. Adjusted for inflation, that figure would be around $180,000 today. Despite that, the benchmark has remained the same, meaning more and more public sector workers are making the cut each year.
So, what does this mean for Ontario taxpayers? While some argue that public sector salaries should reflect inflation and market demand, others question whether such high compensation is justified, especially for executives and administrative roles. One thing’s for sure—this list sparks debate every year, and 2025 is no exception.
What do you think? Should the $100,000 threshold be adjusted for inflation, or is it fair to keep it where it is? Let’s hear your thoughts!
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