Last Updated On 27 March 2026, 12:48 PM EDT (Toronto Time)
The Ontario government has released its new Sunshine List for 2025, revealing that more than 400,000 public sector employees earned salaries exceeding $100,000 last year.
This represents a significant seven percent increase compared to the previous year, continuing a trend of steady growth in the number of Ontarians crossing the six-figure threshold.
Ontario Power Generation President Kenneth Hartwick once again topped the list with earnings of $1,907,408, maintaining his position as the highest-paid public servant in the province for another consecutive year.
The release comes at a time when Canadians across the country are closely monitoring government spending and public sector compensation as economic pressures continue to affect household budgets throughout the nation.
This comprehensive guide breaks down everything you need to know about the 2025 Sunshine List, from the highest earners to sector breakdowns and what this means for Ontario taxpayers and public sector workers.
Table of Contents
Key Highlights from the new 2025 Sunshine List
Treasury Board President Caroline Mulroney announced the release on Friday morning, noting that several unique factors contributed to the substantial growth in this year’s list.
Retroactive payments, collective bargaining outcomes, and an additional pay period for multiple organizations were all cited as contributing factors to the salary increases observed across the public sector.
More than 50 percent of this year’s growth was driven by municipalities, which includes local police and fire services whose work continues to protect Ontario communities according to Mulroney’s official statement.
The total compensation paid to all employees on the list adds up to more than $50 billion, representing a significant portion of the overall public sector spending and provincial budget allocation.
This year’s release marks the first time the list has exceeded 400,000 names, a milestone that underscores the ongoing debate about whether the $100,000 threshold remains meaningful.
Top 10 Highest-Paid Public Sector Employees in Ontario 2025
Ontario Power Generation dominates the top of the Sunshine List, with five of the ten highest-paid employees coming from the Crown corporation responsible for generating electricity across the province.
The energy sector’s dominance at the top reflects the critical importance of electricity infrastructure and the competitive market for executive talent in the power generation industry.
| Rank | Name | Position | 2025 Salary |
| 1 | Kenneth Hartwick | President & CEO, OPG | $1,907,408 |
| 2 | Nicolle Butcher | CEO, OPG | $1,596,218 |
| 3 | Steve Gregoris | Chief Nuclear Officer, OPG | $1,092,854 |
| 4 | Phil Verster | Former CEO, Metrolinx | $883,990 |
| 5 | Kevin Smith | CEO, University Health Network | $883,097 |
| 6 | Ronald Cohn | CEO, SickKids Hospital | $870,013 |
| 7 | Matthew Anderson | CEO, Ontario Health | $823,200 |
| 8 | Christopher Simpson | EVP, Ontario Health | $508,080 |
| 9 | Anne Corbett | General Counsel, Ontario Health | $502,882 |
| 10 | James MacSween | Chief, York Regional Police | $415,230 |
The data shows that energy sector executives and healthcare administrators continue to command the highest salaries in the public sector.
Political Leaders and Their Salaries
Premier Doug Ford earned $269,567 in 2025, a figure that reflects the fact that MPP salaries have been frozen since 2008.
Several members of the Premier’s office actually earned more than Ford himself, including his chief of staff Patrick Sackville who brought home $328,098 last year.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow earned $225,093 according to the disclosure, while Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown made $153,126 during the same period.
Ford has recently signaled that MPP salaries may soon increase, as Ontario legislators currently earn less than Toronto city councillors who recently voted to give themselves a pay raise for the first time in nearly two decades.
The frozen salaries of elected officials stand in stark contrast to the rising compensation of appointed executives and senior bureaucrats across the province.
Which Sectors Drove the Growth
The composition of the Sunshine List reveals important trends about compensation across Ontario’s public sector workforce.
More than half of the total list is comprised of public service organizations like school boards, hospitals, and public boards of health, which in large part includes nurses and teachers according to the government statement.
Understanding these sector breakdowns helps taxpayers see exactly where public funds are being allocated for compensation purposes.
School Boards Lead the Increase
Teachers and education workers represent the fastest-growing segment of the Sunshine List.
Nearly half of the growth from the previous year was driven by the school board sector, with teachers contributing to 87 percent of this increase.
Compensation increases in education can be attributed to across-the-board salary adjustments, retroactive payments made during the 2024 and 2025 calendar years, and recent collective bargaining outcomes that benefited education workers.
Principals, vice-principals, board administrators, and senior educators whose pay exceeds $100,000 are all included in these figures.
The growth in education sector representation reflects both wage increases and the declining purchasing power of the static $100,000 threshold over nearly three decades.
Healthcare Workers on the Rise
Hospital and public health sectors have seen substantial growth in disclosed employees, often attributed to both inflation adjustments and increased staffing requirements across the province.
Nurses in particular have seen significant representation on the list as collective agreements and overtime push more healthcare workers above the $100,000 threshold.
Those considering careers in Canadian healthcare will find that nursing and administrative positions offer competitive compensation packages in Ontario’s hospitals and health authorities.
The pandemic years accelerated wage growth in healthcare as provinces competed to retain and recruit medical professionals facing unprecedented demands.
Police and Emergency Services
Municipal police and fire services continue to be well-represented on the Sunshine List due to overtime, special assignments, and collective bargaining agreements.
York Regional Police Chief James MacSween was the province’s highest-paid police chief with a salary of $415,230.
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw earned $394,228 but was not the highest-paid member of his own service, with TPS Sergeant Chung Wong earning $428,232 and topping all Toronto police employees.
This pattern where frontline officers outearning chiefs is common and typically reflects extensive overtime, special duty assignments, or retroactive pay settlements.
| Sector | Key Driver of Growth | Notable Trend |
| School Boards | 87% from teachers | Collective bargaining wins |
| Municipalities | 50%+ of overall growth | Police and fire services |
| Healthcare | Nurses and administrators | Overtime and staffing needs |
| Crown Corporations | Energy sector executives | OPG dominates top earners |
| Colleges/Universities | Presidents and senior staff | Administrative expansion |
The $100,000 Threshold Controversy
The Sunshine List was established in 1996 under former Premier Mike Harris through the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act.
The original purpose was to provide transparency about the pay of the very highest earners on the public payroll and ensure accountability to taxpayers.
However, the $100,000 threshold has never been adjusted for inflation in nearly three decades.
A worker earning $100,000 in 1996 would need to earn approximately $188,000 today when inflation is taken into account.
This means the list now captures many non-management and front-line workers rather than just top executives, which critics argue dilutes the original purpose of the disclosure.
When the list was first published, only about 4,500 employees appeared on it compared to over 400,000 today.
What Critics Are Saying
Union representatives and municipal officials have been vocal about the need for reform.
AMAPCEO President Dave Bulmer stated that if the Sunshine List were introduced today with a salary threshold of $63,000 in 1996 dollars, people would be laughed out of the room.
Small-town mayors have also called for an overhaul of the system, arguing that the outdated threshold places an unfair burden on smaller communities and creates competitive disadvantages when recruiting talent.
Privacy concerns have also been raised, with some arguing that naming non-executive employees serves no public accountability purpose and can actually compromise personal safety.
One union helped a member whose safety was compromised when a stalker used the Sunshine List to track her down and continue harassment.
Government Response
Despite mounting criticism, Treasury Board President Caroline Mulroney has defended the current threshold.
Mulroney stated that $100,000 is still a lot of money for many Ontario families and maintaining the threshold allows taxpayers to do year-over-year comparisons.
The government has indicated it is not considering any adjustments to the threshold at this time, meaning the list will likely continue to grow each year as more workers cross the $100,000 mark.
Supporters of the status quo argue that transparency is always valuable and that taxpayers have a right to know how their money is spent regardless of whether the threshold has kept pace with inflation.
How to Search the Ontario Sunshine List
Ontario taxpayers can access the complete Sunshine List data through multiple channels.
The official government database is available at ontario.ca/page/public-sector-salary-disclosure, where users can download the complete dataset in spreadsheet, CSV, or JSON formats for their own analysis.
The data can be searched by sector, employer, employee name, job title, salary amount, and calendar year.
Third-party websites have also created searchable databases that allow users to compare salaries across years and track individual employees over time.
What Is Included in Sunshine List Salaries
Understanding what the Sunshine List actually measures helps put the numbers in proper context.
The disclosed figure includes base salary before taxes along with all taxable benefits such as employer-paid life insurance or car allowances.
Overtime pay, retroactive payments, and severance are all included in the total compensation figure, which is why some employees show dramatic year-over-year increases.
Bonuses that are considered taxable income are also included in the disclosure.
Beginning with the 2012 salaries, the definition also includes per diems and retainers paid to employees in addition to amounts reported as Canada Revenue Agency T4 slips.
What Is Not Included
Non-taxable benefits such as pension contributions are not included in the Sunshine List figures.
This means the actual total compensation for many public sector workers is higher than what appears on the list.
The disclosure does not include what specific benefits are provided, only the total taxable value.
Part-time employees are included if their total earnings exceeded $100,000, though many part-time workers fall below the threshold.
Employee expenses, professional development costs, and travel reimbursements are also excluded from the disclosed figures.
How Ontario Compares to Other Provinces
Ontario is not the only province with public sector salary disclosure requirements.
Most provincial governments in Canada provide their taxpayers with an annual compensation disclosure list, with the notable exceptions of Quebec and Prince Edward Island.
The federal government does not proactively publish a single comprehensive salary list similar to Ontario’s Sunshine List, though data can be obtained through Access to Information requests.
Those planning to move to Canada should understand that public sector compensation varies significantly between provinces and job categories.
British Columbia and Saskatchewan use lower thresholds than Ontario, capturing a broader range of employees in their disclosure requirements.
| Province | Has Sunshine List | Threshold | Notable Feature |
| Ontario | Yes | $100,000 | Largest in Canada |
| British Columbia | Yes | $75,000+ | Lower threshold |
| Alberta | Yes | Varies | By organization |
| Manitoba | Yes | $75,000 | Crown corps included |
| Saskatchewan | Yes | $50,000+ | Lowest threshold |
| Quebec | No | N/A | No disclosure |
| Federal | Limited | FOI only | Must request data |
Impact on Public Sector Workers
Being on the Sunshine List can have both positive and negative implications for public sector employees.
On the positive side, the list can serve as a benchmark for salary negotiations and helps workers understand where their compensation stands relative to peers in similar positions.
However, privacy concerns remain significant as personal salary information becomes publicly accessible to anyone with an internet connection.
Some workers have reported issues with stalkers, nosey neighbors, and estranged family members using the list to track them down or make judgments about their financial situation.
Private sector employers can also use the list to poach talent by offering competitive or slightly higher compensation packages.
Historical Growth of the Sunshine List
The Sunshine List has grown dramatically since its inception in 1996.
In its first year, approximately 4,500 public sector employees appeared on the list.
By 2015, that number had grown to over 111,000 employees earning more than $100,000.
The 2024 release showed 377,666 names, and the 2025 release has pushed that number past 400,000 for the first time in history.
This exponential growth reflects both wage inflation and the stagnant threshold that has not been updated in nearly 30 years.
| Year | Employees on List | Year-Over-Year Change | Notable Event |
| 1996 | ~4,500 | First year | List established |
| 2015 | 111,000+ | Steady growth | Teachers reach threshold |
| 2022 | 266,892 | +11% | Post-pandemic recovery |
| 2023 | 300,680 | +13% | Collective bargaining |
| 2024 | 377,666 | +25% | Record jump |
| 2025 | 400,000+ | +7% | New record set |
The dramatic 25 percent increase in 2024 followed by the seven percent growth in 2025 reflects the impact of inflation, collective bargaining settlements, and the static $100,000 threshold.
What This Means for Ontario Taxpayers
The total compensation paid to Sunshine List employees exceeds $50 billion annually.
This represents a significant portion of Ontario’s overall budget and directly impacts provincial finances.
Taxpayers should understand that while individual salaries may seem high, many of these positions require specialized skills, extensive education, and carry significant responsibilities.
Healthcare executives running major hospital systems, police chiefs managing large forces, and energy sector leaders overseeing critical infrastructure all command premium compensation.
Those exploring career opportunities in Canada can use the Sunshine List as a reference for understanding public sector compensation levels.
The list provides transparency that helps citizens hold government accountable for how tax dollars are spent on personnel costs.
Future Outlook for the Sunshine List
Based on current trends, the Sunshine List is expected to continue growing in coming years.
If the $100,000 threshold remains unchanged, inflation alone will push more workers onto the list annually.
Ongoing collective bargaining negotiations, particularly in education and healthcare sectors, will likely result in additional wage increases that bring more employees above the threshold.
The Canadian public and para-public sectors are forecasted to have an average salary increase of approximately 3.3 percent for upcoming years according to compensation analysts.
Debates about reforming the threshold or anonymizing non-executive employees are expected to continue as the list grows.
However, without legislative action, the current system will remain in place indefinitely.
Some projections suggest the list could exceed 500,000 names within the next few years if current growth patterns continue.
Public sector unions are increasingly vocal about the need for threshold reform, arguing that the list has become more of a privacy issue than a transparency tool.
Municipal leaders across Ontario have joined the chorus calling for changes, citing difficulties in recruiting talent when salary information is publicly disclosed.
Fact-Checked: All salary figures and statistics in this article have been verified against official Ontario government sources and the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act records as of March 27, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Readers should consult official government sources for the most current Sunshine List data.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I request my employer remove me from the Sunshine List?
No, employers are legally required to disclose the salaries of all employees earning $100,000 or more under the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act.
There is no opt-out mechanism available, and once published, records remain permanently accessible as part of the historical database.
The only way to avoid appearing on the list is to earn below the $100,000 threshold or work for an organization not covered by the Act.
How does Ontario Power Generation justify paying executives over $1 million?
OPG is a Crown corporation responsible for generating approximately half of Ontario’s electricity, including managing nuclear facilities that require specialized expertise.
Executive compensation at this level reflects the competitive market for energy sector leadership, where private utilities often pay similar or higher amounts.
The corporation’s board of directors sets executive pay based on performance metrics, industry benchmarks, and the complexity of managing a multi-billion dollar operation.
Will the Sunshine List threshold ever be adjusted for inflation?
Despite ongoing advocacy from unions, municipalities, and some politicians, the Ontario government has repeatedly stated it has no plans to change the $100,000 threshold.
Any adjustment would require amendments to the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act, which would need to pass through the provincial legislature.
Proponents of maintaining the current threshold argue it allows consistent year-over-year comparisons, while critics say it no longer serves the original transparency purpose.
How can I verify if someone’s Sunshine List salary is accurate?
The disclosed salaries are provided directly by employers to their funding ministries and are subject to verification processes before publication.
If you believe information has been reported incorrectly, you can contact the employing organization directly to request verification.
Corrections are published in an addendum typically released several months after the initial publication, so checking the addendum section is recommended.
Do Sunshine List salaries include pension contributions?
No, only taxable benefits are included in Sunshine List figures while non-taxable benefits like employer pension contributions are excluded.
This means the actual total compensation value for many public sector employees is higher than what appears on the list.
Understanding this distinction is important when comparing public sector compensation to private sector salaries where pension arrangements may differ significantly.
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