Sun shines on public salaries

More than 450 local residents made the province’s annual Sunshine List of employees who earned more than $100,000 in 2015.

Topping the local list were a two local health care officials and an educator.

The two local health care officials are Gary Switzer, Chief Executive Officer of the Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), who received $308,346 and Colin Patey President and Chief Executive Officer of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance who pulled in $285,000. (All figures exclude taxable benefits).

The LHIN oversees the Community Care Access Centre system that had 27 on the list, led by CEO Lori Marshall at $223,768, followed by senior leads Patricia Khan ($144,325) and Kelly Robertson ($144,012).

The CKHA had 45 members on the list with Chief Operating Officer Sarah Padfield ($187,613), Vice President Willi Kirenko ($164,237) and nurse Annette O’Neill ($156,464) topping the $150,000 mark.

The Canadian Mental Health Association had 19 members on the list, topped by CEO Alan Stevenson at $158,004 followed by senior service director Bonnie Wrightman ($148,855) and Linda Swain, director of corporate services at $129,807.

More than 115,000 provincial employees across Ontario made the list in 2015.

Former Ontario Premier Mike Harris started the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act in 1996.

It was led by Thomas Mitchell, CEO of Ontario Power Generation who made $1,528,933 last year.

St. Clair College president Patti France made $339,419 last year. There were 210 college employees on the list, the majority of them at the Windsor campus. The outgoing Thames Campus Principal made $103,846.

Ontario Court of Justice Judge Stephen Feurth made $291,751 while fellow judges Lucy Glenn and William Wolski each made $284,276. Justices of the Peace Calvin Hurst and Marsha Miskokomon each made $127,223.

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There were 165 Chatham-Kent municipal employees who topped the $100,000 mark. The majority are police with 82 members and firefighters with 51.

Former police chief Dennis Poole who retired last year made $205,154. Current police chief Gary Conn ($183,467) and deputy chief Jeff Littlewood were next at $162,645.

Fire/Paramedic Chief Ken Stuebing made $145,474. Assistant chiefs Rick Scarf ($119,501) and Bob Davidson ($118,476) were next while Deputy Chief Alan Devillaer made $116,807.

The Lambton Kent District School Board had 142 employees who topped $100,000 led by Director of Education Jim Costello at $205,075. Next are superintendents of education Joy Badder ($159,969), Daphne Lounsbury ($155,636) and Phillip Warner ($159,617).

The St. Clair Catholic School Board has 100 members on the list with Superintendent Dan Parr leading at $213,923. Associate Director and treasurer James McKenzie is next at $210,343 while Deb Crawford tops the superintendents at $182,097.

Other notables include Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority General Manger Don Pearson at $116,125, and St. Clair Region Conservation Authority General Manager Brian McDougall at $109,143.