Ontario has released its annual “Sunshine List” for 2024, revealing public sector employees who earned over $100,000. Topping the list again this year is Ontario Power Generation President and CEO Kenneth Hartwick, with a salary exceeding $2 million.
Ontario Power Generation employees dominated the top ranks, securing the first three positions and six of the top ten spots, each earning at least $800,000. Hartwick’s salary increased from approximately $1.93 million in the previous year.
Former Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster was the fourth-highest earner, drawing a salary of around $884,000 despite resigning in December.
Healthcare leadership also prominently featured in the top ten. Kevin Smith of the University Health Network earned $883,097, Ronald Cohn from Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children received $870,013, and Ontario Health’s Matthew Anderson was paid $833,653.
Overall, the 2024 Sunshine List includes over 377,000 public sector workers—an increase from approximately 300,570 last year—with total salaries amounting to just over $50 billion. Ontario Power Generation alone accounted for 10,007 individuals, totaling about $1.68 billion in compensation.
College presidents also appeared prominently on the list, including Conestoga’s John Tibbits ($636,106.70), Humber’s Ann Marie Vaughan ($497,880.32), and Seneca’s David Agnew ($459,778.83).
Treasury Board President Caroline Mulroney attributed nearly half of the growth to salary adjustments and retroactive payments, specifically highlighting significant increases in the education sector.
Notably, Premier Doug Ford ($208,974) earned less than six members of his own office, including Chief of Staff Patrick Sackville ($328,098). Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow earned $225,093, while Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiew received $394,228, surpassed by Toronto Police Sergeant Chung Wong, who earned $428,232.
The highest-paid police chief in the province was York Regional Police Chief James MacSween, earning $415,230.
The Sunshine List was first implemented in 1996 by former Premier Mike Harris to disclose public sector salaries exceeding $100,000—a threshold unchanged since then, despite significant inflation.