Sunshine List: Here are the big local salaries your tax dollars pay for

The province has released its annual Sunshine List, a searchable database that names every public-sector worker in Ontario who earns an annual salary of at least $100,000.

This year’s instalment, which covers 2023, has more than 300,000 entries — including hundreds of people who work in Sault Ste. Marie.

Locally, the Algoma District School Board had the most six-figure salaries on the public dime, with 483 staffers earning more than $100,000 last year. Next on the list are Sault Area Hospital (440), the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board (237) and Sault College (139).

Algoma University and the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service both had 129 six-figure earners, followed by the City of Sault Ste. Marie, with 123 (that number includes firefighters).

Who tops the list in the Sault? Ron Common, the former president of Sault College, who earned $428,900.24 in 2023.

Other big breadwinners include Algoma University professor Aaron Gordon ($410,357.04), Dr. Michael D’Agostino, head of pathology at Sault Area Hospital ($375,066.52) and Dr. Andrew Webb, a vice-president at SAH ($347,026.74).

The database does not appear to include every judge who sits on the bench in Sault Ste. Marie, but the ones who are listed — Justices John Condon, Melanie Dunn, Romuald Kwolek and Heather Mendes — were each paid $356,020.61 last year (as well as $3,643.05 in taxable benefits).

Other notables?

• Liliana Silvano, president and CEO of the Group Health Centre: $265,005

• City CAO Malcolm White (now retired): $228,209.24

• Police Chief Hugh Stevenson: $223,540.37

• Fire Chief Peter Johnson: $189,474.90

First released in 1996, the Sunshine List is designed to give taxpayers a better understanding of where a portion of their money is being spent. But in recent years, some have argued that the threshold for inclusion should be increased because so many public servants now earn $100,000 or more.

When the list was first unveiled 28 years ago, it included just 4,494 names. 

Below is a list of the local organizations that employ the most public-sector workers who are paid more than $100,000 per year, as well as a list of their top-earning staffers. The dollar figure in brackets represents taxable benefits. 

You can search the full list HERE. Did we miss someone? Reach out at [email protected].

Algoma District School Board (483 six-figure earners)

• Lucia Reece, Director of Education: $237,000.10 ($14,320.16)

• Joe Santa Maria, Superintendent of Business: $192,000.08 ($7,780.23)

• Superintendents Marcy Bell, Frank Palumbo and Brent Valee: $176,000.09 ($7,140.27)

Sault Area Hospital (440 six-figure earners) 

• Dr. Michael D’Agostino, Medical Director, Pathology: $375,066.52 ($1,043.52)

• Dr. Andrew Webb, Vice-president of innovation, quality and medicine: $347,026.74 ($1,586.64)

• Ila Watson, president and CEO: $343,238.34 ($1,603.20)

Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board (237 six-figure earners)

• Danny Viotto: Director of Education: $229,734.88 ($4,600.36)

• Superintendents Joseph Chilelli, Christine Durocher, Filippo Lettieri, Justin Pino: $169,581.19 (ranging from $2,500.35 to $4,600.36)

Sault College (139 six-figure earners)

• Ron Common, former president: $428,900.24 ($219.84)

• David Orazietti, former dean, current president: $257,269.64 ($365.15)

• Laurie Burrows, chief financial officer: $212,829.92 ($203.04)

Algoma University (129 six-figure earners) 

• Aaron Gordon, business and economics professor: $410,357.04 ($9,290.40)

• Asima Vezina, president: $332,250.16 ($26,586.84)

• Md Mahbubul Alam, business and economics professor: $315,375.12 ($11,320.64)

Sault Ste. Marie Police Service (129 six-figure earners)

• Chief Hugh Stevenson: $223,540.37 ($6,000)

• Deputy Chief (now retired) Robert MacLachlan: $192,431.05 ($4,800)

• Inspector (now Deputy Chief) Brent Duguay: $187,073.35 ($1,790.29)

City of Sault Ste. Marie, which includes firefighters (123 six-figure earners)  

• CAO Malcolm White, now retired: $228,209.24 ($7,603.90)

• Deputy CAO Larry Girardi: $198,852.27 ($5,500.61)

• Deputy CAO Tom Vair (now CAO): $198,852.25 ($1,812.69)

• Fire Chief Peter Johnson: $189,474.90 ($3,299.01)

District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board (23 six-figure earners)

• Mike Nadeau, CEO: $206,721.19 ($7,788.96)

• David Petersson, director of corporate services: $167,282.55 ($1,426.95)

• Kate Kirkham, chief of paramedic services: $137,790.68 ($1,197.27)

Algoma Public Health (20 six-figure earners)

• Dr. John Tuinema, Associate Medical Officer of Health: $291,365.18 ($814.75)

• Dr. Jennifer Loo, Medical Officer of Health: $268,739.19 ($651.80)

• Laurie Zeppa, Director of Health Protection: $163,715.96 ($698.76)

Group Health Centre (15 six-figure earners) 

• Liliana Silvano, president and CEO: $265,005 ($871.44)

• Tony Barone, vice-president of finance: $218,379.24 ($902.64)

• Darren Fetterly, vice-president of clinical operation: $171,283.61 ($902.64)