Few additions to OMAFRA sunshine list

Thursday, March 29, 2012

by SUSAN MANN

There are few additions to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs’ sunshine list but some of those on this year’s list had had a salary increase despite a two-year wage freeze.

There are seven more agricultural ministry employees and five more people at Agricorp on this year’s list of public sector workers earning $100,000 or more compared to last year.

The 2012 list, which is for salaries and taxable benefits paid in 2011, was released by the Ontario Finance Ministry Friday. In its press release, the ministry says this is the third consecutive year the average salary on the list declined. For 2011, the average salary over $100,000 across the Ontario public service decreased by one per cent or $1,211 to $127,639 from $128,850. There was also an $86 decrease across the broader public sector to $127,649 from $127,735.

There were 101 agriculture ministry employees on the 2012 list and 94 on the 2011 list. Twenty-three people were on the 2012 Agricorp list compared to 18 in 2011.

Despite the two-year wage freeze introduced by Finance Minister Dwight Duncan in 2010 for all public sector workers in the province who don’t bargain collectively, there were increases in several agriculture ministry workers’ and Agricorp salaries in 2011 compared to the previous year.

For example, David Hope, the assistant deputy minister for food safety and the environment, was paid $177,528.24 in 2011 compared to $171,706.14 in 2010. His title then was listed as assistant deputy minister for special projects.

Former deputy minister John Burke was paid $237,352.58 in 2011 compared to $225,469.58 in 2010. The current deputy minister, Fareed Amin, was appointed in December 2011.

Agriculture Ministry spokesperson Susan Murray says by email management employees may receive base salary adjustments solely based on their performance through their pay-for-performance award. “There is no automatic merit or cost-of-living increases to management salaries,” she says.

The amounts shown for individuals can be made up of a combination of factors, such as salaries, taxable benefits, wage adjustments and severance entitlements.

One of the lower salaries on the 2012 list was Louis Martel, regional manager, meat inspection east, at $100,976.07. He wasn’t on last year’s list.

One of the lower salaries on the 2011 list was Neil Anderson, lead veterinarian, disease prevention, ruminant at $100,082.01. On the 2012 list his salary was $102,076.07.

One salary that declined in 2011 compared to 2010 was Rena Hubers, food inspection director. In 2011 her salary was $136,360.92, while in 2010 it was $136,915.47. In 2010 her title was director food safety and environment policy.

At Agricorp, chief executive officer Randy Jackiw was paid $184,359.29 in 2011 compared to $182,421.79 in 2010. Chief information officer Doug Larose was paid $185,036.56 in 2011 and $177,741.49 in 2010.

In its release, the finance ministry says the threshold of $100,000 hasn’t changed since the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act was introduced in 1996. If the threshold had kept up with inflation it would now be at about $139,000 and the current list would be approximately 78 per cent shorter.

In Tuesday’s provincial budget the government says it plans to freeze the wages of Ontario’s 1.2 million public sectors workers and will use the existing negotiations processes or legislation if necessary. Executives at hospitals, colleges and universities, school boards and public agencies will also have their wages frozen for another two years. MPPs will have their wages frozen for another two years for a total of five years, the government announced. BF