By Staff
March 31, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Each year the province requires municipalities to publish a list of all those who earn more than $100,00 annually. The data is presented as the salary paid and benefits given that are taxable.
Burlington civil servants were given a 1% salary increase in the 2014 budget.
Councillor Marianne Meed Ward brought a motion to Council that was approved asking the city manager to look into the free parking and free transit passes that are given city employees. Meed Ward is of the view that this benefit is taxable and should be treated as such.
The first figure shown after each name is the annual salary, the second is the taxable benefit.
ADCOCK ALAN Firefighter $102,172.28 $487.27
ALDHAM JUDY Field Services Supervisor $104,070.38 $2,225.26
ALLDRIDGE BRIAN Platoon Chief $124,140.31 $649.80
ANTONIOW PHIL Manager of Program Development, Budgets and Contracts $112,680.32 $622.77
AXIAK ROB Manager Facility Operations and Special Projects $105,876.99 $552.03
BAKOS MICHAEL Captain $108,247.81 $571.12
BARRY PHILIP Captain $108,610.77 $573.86
BAVOTA ANTHONY Fire Chief $157,572.65 $1,906.95
BAYLOR MARK Captain $110,816.79 $570.96
BAYNTON STEVE T. Captain $111,727.68 $586.64
BEATTY DAVID N. Fire Chief $105,836.89 $3,409.68
BEDINI CHRIS District Supervisor $105,298.61 $662.70
BENNETT RANDY Manager of Information Technology Infrastructure and Operations $117,305.77 $640.34
BENNITT JAMES District Supervisor $101,209.87 $764.12
BERDAN MICHAEL Transit Supervisor $103,954.97 $456.07
BIELSKI BIANCA Manager of Development Planning $131,198.38 $739.08
BIRCH CHARLES T. Captain $112,490.88 $585.12
BLACK JEFFREY Manager of Field Services $105,641.57 $3,398.73
BOYD LAURA Human Resource Manager $106,215.06 $590.76
BRILLON SYLVAIN Firefighter $100,870.86 $484.09
CAUGHLIN DEBORAH Manager of Council Services $104,747.58 $582.24
CHOLEWKA CHRIS Captain $107,542.24 $564.00
CLARK CARY Manager of Development and Environmental Engineering $109,618.58 $550.80
COULSON ANN MARIE Manager of Financial Planning and Taxation $133,138.56 $702.66
CRASS JOHN Manager of Traffic Services $106,854.96 $599.16
DI PIETRO ITALO Manager of Infrastructure and Data Management $118,340.36 $655.44
DONATI DERRICK Firefighter $101,799.93 $495.31
DOWD TIMOTHY Captain $117,192.97 $585.12
DUNCAN JOHN Transit Manager $120,963.15 $1,069.52
EALES MARK Captain $106,407.96 $559.95
EICHENBAUM TOOMAS Director of Engineering $165,413.29 $877.56
EVANS FRANCES Manager Halton Court Administration $104,071.88 $575.45
FIELDING JEFF City Manager $249,940.24 $8,898.60
FIORAVANTI LEANNE Solicitor $105,949.26 $510.32
FORD JOAN Director of Finance $153,457.30 $838.93
FRYER E. TODD Firefighter $101,929.55 $519.12
GLENN CHRISTOPHER Director of Parks and Recreation $132,997.91 $731.28
GLOBE DARREN Captain $107,508.37 $573.49
GOLDRING PATRICK Mayor $168,155.78 $2,511.56
GRISON GREGORY J. Captain $111,727.66 $585.74
HAMILTON SCOTT Manager Design and Construction $111,514.22 $618.78
HAMMER CHAD Firefighter $101,951.54 $493.89
HAMMOND BILL Fire Training Supervisor $107,840.61 $562.56
HART TIMOTHY Firefighter $103,027.20 $492.49
HAYES DENNIS M. Platoon Chief $127,478.73 $617.46
HEBNER PETER B. Captain $114,146.11 $585.12
HURLEY BLAKE Assistant City Solicitor $134,557.07 $644.83
JAMES MICHAEL Training Officer – Fire $102,489.52 $570.96
JONES SHEILA City Auditor $123,574.30 $664.26
JONES STEPHEN Captain $107,384.25 $550.83
JURK ROBERT Senior Project Leader $105,261.62 $581.57
KEANEY THOMAS Firefighter $100,775.57 $486.09
KELL DONNA Manager of Public Affairs $114,486.31 $630.35
KELLY JOHN Captain $110,246.84 $579.30
KIPPEN MARK Firefighter $100,628.48 $496.85
KOEVOETS MATT District Supervisor $106,906.64 $1,394.19
KRUSHELNICKI BRUCE Director Planning and Building $160,581.87 $891.60
KUBOTA ERIKA Assistant City Solicitor $134,346.99 $644.86
LAING BRUCE K. Captain $111,727.68 $585.12
LAPORTE N. JASON Captain $109,433.52 $571.25
LASELVA JOHN Supervisor Building Permits $103,581.39 $578.01
LONG MARK Captain $114,237.26 $591.85
MACDONALD GARY F. Captain $111,727.68 $585.12
MACKAY MICHAEL J. Captain $111,727.68 $587.71
MAGI ALLAN Executive Director of Corporate Strategic Initiatives $172,840.24 $967.56
MALE ROY E. Executive Director of Human Resources $182,946.28 $1,012.56
MARTIN CHRISTOPHER Captain $108,414.44 $553.46
MATHESON JAMIE Firefighter $100,671.68 $492.84
MCNAMARA MICHAEL J. Captain $112,644.56 $585.12
MERCANTI CINDY Manager of Recreation Services $113,175.87 $568.20
MINAJI ROSALIND Coordinator Development Review $100,370.93 $560.67
MONTEITH ROSS A. Deputy Fire Chief $136,019.93 $1,601.85
MORGAN ANGELA City Clerk $140,406.98 $753.15
MYERS PETER R. Captain $111,727.67 $593.09
NICELIU KENNETH Firefighter $104,681.45 $514.61
NICHOLSON J. ALAN Captain $111,727.68 $585.12
O’REILLY SANDRA Controller and Manager of Financial Services $113,228.22 $591.60
PEACHEY ROBERT Manager Parks and Open Space $111,558.40 $623.32
PHILLIPS KIMBERLEY General Manager $212,612.61 $8,730.36
POLIZIANI MATTHEW Captain $107,950.52 $557.81
REILLY PETER Captain $114,474.01 $589.90
ROBERTSON CATHARINE Director of Roads and Parks Maintenance $146,163.10 $1,304.38
SCHMIDT-SHOUKRI JASON Manager of Building Permit Services and Chief Building Official $135,620.24 $738.61
SHAHZAD ARIF Senior Environmental Engineer $100,995.97 $560.26
SHEA NICOL NANCY City Solicitor $168,958.55 $814.29
SHIELDS LISA Assistant City Solicitor $134,626.43 $638.32
SLACK CRAIG D. Platoon Chief $128,234.10 $649.80
SMITH CLINT Platoon Chief $127,352.17 $649.80
SMITH SIMON Firefighter $100,129.68 $498.05
SPICER MIKE Director of Transit $134,021.48 $708.84
STEIGINGA RON Manager of Realty Services $113,120.85 $618.84
STEVENS CRAIG Senior Project Manager $101,835.28 $570.98
STEWART SCOTT General Manager $217,635.03 $10,462.48
SWANCE JEFFREY W. Captain $111,727.67 $585.12
SWENOR CHRISTINE Director Information Technology Services $163,040.20 $861.42
TAGGART DAVID Manager Facility Assets $111,045.99 $610.32
THANDI JAZZ Manager Procurement Services $101,688.67 $561.61
VRAKELA STEVE Field Services Supervisor $101,325.60 $1,691.68
WEBER JEFF Deputy Fire Chief $139,961.19 $5,933.10
WHEATLEY RYAN Captain $110,407.44 $570.96
WIGNALL T. MARK Firefighter $102,867.06 $512.74
WINTAR JOSEPH Chief Fire Prevention Officer $110,934.32 $621.60
WOODS DOUGLAS S. Captain $112,106.48 $585.12
ZORBAS STEVE General Manager $167,678.00 $923.12
ZVANIGA BRUCE Director of Transportation Services $145,292.33 $775.86
I already wrote in and lost my message. My info was not here. I do not know why. I agree with you Tony there is a vast income disparity now and there was long ago in the 50’s. I was asked why did I want to work I just wanted “pin” money right? With a recently decesed father and a mother who also did not work along with Cynthia’s we both had to support the family and the house. Pin money my toe. I appreciate you researching this information and your willingness to find a solution. Will read the links if I can access them.
Here is some further reading from the Institute of Competitiveness and Prosperity. You will have to click on the link and then download the pdf. It is relavent as it speaks to the growing disparity between public and private sector.
https://www.competeprosper.ca/work/working_papers/working_paper_19
Hi Joan, I suspect that demand-pull inflation has been at play here in Ontario and has manifested itself in high real estate values and therefore high cost of housing. Demand-pull inflation is fueled by income. Those who have it, spend it, creating inflationary pressure, and those who have lesser income feel the effects. The question becomes; is one group making to little, or is the other group making too much? Perhaps one of the economics buffs could give some further insight, or correct me if I’m off base.
hi again- I read Behind the Numbers from the folks at ccpa whenever I can. Here is something from them from 2012 https://behindthenumbers.ca/2012/06/06/how-to-fix-income-inequality/
yes, our population has changed but I still think tht many of the ideas stated there would go helping things back toward a more fair and balanced society. Check the comments there too..
Bravo to Cynthia and Tony, keep on investigating and get back to us with your findings. We need more citizens like yourselves to get the workforce working again, where everyone has a living wage. Mabe then we can work on improving seniors pensions and benefits especially for those who worked before CPP and stayed home with children and therefore have next to no CPP. Volunteer work should count for something but it seems it does not. Why Not?
This just shows why people are tight financially. Who would accept working in exchange for any less than $100K? $100K is more like minimum wage these days. No wonder civil servants take so much time off sick; I would too if I was getting such lousy pay.
Paula – I should not rise to the bait of your trolling but you should be ashamed of yourself for making such a comment. In 2012 the average wage for full-time workers in Canada was $46,634.00. ( source: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/publications/National%20Office/2014/01/All_in_a_Days_Work_CEO_%20Pay.pdf ).
Let’s try to have some meaningful and intelligent dialogue here.
Full disclosure – I live in Burlington and work at a college and will be on the notorious sunshine list in the next couple of years. I know how lucky I am and just have this to say. It is not that government employees earn too much, it is that private sector workers don’t earn enough. It used to be that factory and grocery store work, and lots of other “middle class” jobs, jobs earned enough to provide a decent living. In the ’70s unionized workers with full time jobs and good benefits staffed most grocery stores – and funny enough, my lower middle class wage earning father could afford to shop there. My Mom didn’t have to work. What has changed? The unions are gone, CEOs and shareholders come first. When are people going to wake up? If any austerity is needed, it is for CEOs, shareholders, and corporations, not regular wage earners. Instead of hating the still barely standing public sector unions, start fighting to unionize private sector jobs. Fight for a living wage. Fight for salary caps on public sector administrators and CEOs. $1.7 million in salary and severance for the head of hydro? Really? That should be the headline, not what we pay police officers, firefighters and teachers.
Worth considering is that 88.5% of Ontarian’s employed in the private sector work for SME’s (small and medium enterprises). We can assume that the other 11.5% work for large corporations and are already possibly unionized. In many SME’s profits are hard to come by, unions are not a viable option and CEO’s are mom and pop.
You disclosed that you will soon be earning double the average wage in Ontario, and should be congratulated for your achievement. Most in the private sector would be hard pressed to get anywhere close to that salary because of economic constraints of a free market system. I’m not sure if you are suggesting a different system.
Tony – you give me pause for thought. I admit that I focus on change in the big corporations, where there is much room for change and I believe it is affordable. I do need to think about smaller and local businesses, the places where I prefer to spend my money. I don’t think everyone should pay their employees $100000 annually, but something has to give. Maybe SMEs pay too much tax – if loopholes for big corporations were closed and the little guys paid less, would there be more to go around? I don’t know, but I will definitely start investigating. You ask if I’m looking for a new system. I suppose I am. Or maybe just a way back to a time when there was less income inequality, much less. How was it different? How did it work? We need to figure it out. We were doing lots right back in the 60s and 70s. Before Thatcherism and Reagan-style economics took over in the 80s & 90s. I suppose people will call me naive, but I refuse to believe that widening gulf between rich and poor is impossible to stop and reverse.
Thank you Cynthia for your very thoughtful and genuine response. I certainly don’t qualify as an expert and don’t presume to have the answers. When we get beyond the various self interest groups, media, and political rhetoric, we find that the waters have become muddied and the way out less clear.
The dynamics are much different today than in the 70’s and that may be attributed to factors such as shifting demographics. We’ve seen the baby boomers grow to the age of retirement and women enter the work force in a big way over those decades.
The exchange of thoughts and viewpoints in forums such as this one, are very important for consensus building. The true value is in the discussion and not the persuasion. The fact that people, like those that comment here, take the time to invole and educate themselves is perhaps a step in the right direction. I, for one, am very appreciative to the Burlington Gazette for providing such a valuable resource.
Unbelieveable.
The sunshine list was devised in 1996 at a threshold of $100K.
If you account for inflation that would be $138,000 in 2013 dollars (Globe and Mail).
But why inflation? Salaries do not automatically increase with inflation. Many people do not get annual increases step in step with inflation. They may get some increase but many times it is less than inflation.
In fact I know of a particular department of employees at a large company where only 3 of 12 received any increase at all this year. Their increases are based on merit by formula only and because they have reached the maximum in their pay band (because they have worked there for a long time – ave 20 years) they are no longer are eligible for inceases, ever.
It’s true that salaries are increasing in general so, ok, let’s use inflation as the proxy for annual increases.
“In a few years everyone will be making over $100 K /year”
Really?
The average Ontario salary is $48,900, so I am not sure how everyone will be making $100K in a few years. It would take until 2032 for that average person to make $100K (using the same inflation rate as noted by the G and M).
Unless you are referring to the possibility that every public sector employee will be making over $100K in a few years. If that were to be true then we are economically doomed.
Currently there is 97,796 are on the sunshine list at an average of $127,433. That is about $12,460,000,000.
There are approximately 1,150,000 Ontario public sector employees earning $60,570,000,000 (Stats Can 2011).
So if every one of those employees made over $100K (let’s even use the current over $100K average of $127K) then the public payroll would be $146 billion, that’s more than the current tax revenues collected in Ontario.
I would argue that the threshold should be set at $1. After all they are employees of one single employer – the taxpayer – you and me. All employers know what they pay each employee and we should be no different.
We could then evaluate all public sector wages to private sector wages. Comparing to CEO salaries would do nothing. That is comparing apples and oranges. CEO’s in my opinion are paid far too much but that is a free labour market, private sector decision. If you don’t like it you can choose not to purchase that company’s product. With the public sector we do not have the choice to not purchase their product via tax levies.
Let us know all, whether it is the teacher in Arnprior, the water works employee in Timmins or the Director of HR for the City of Windsor. I think it is our right to know. We can then analyse the information accordingly.
Interesting to me, of the 106 on the list, I count 78 from the Fire Department. I don’t usually think of the Fire Department Staff as City Hall Staff although I know they are.
Also interesting, last year there were 117 on the Burlington City Hall Staff Members Sunshine List.
I think you may have miscounted. I only get 50 from fire department.
You’re right! I counted the Captains twice.
I sit corrected.
The sunshine list has not increased from $100K from when it was first conceived. This amount does not take into account inflation etc.
The news media should stop reporting the list since in a few years everyone will be making over $100 K /year – so what?
A better list would be to compare the sunshine list to the increase in CEO salaries. That ratio would convey more & better information.
To quote from an article from my favourite on-line newspaper;
“Armine Yalnizyan of Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says only a small fraction of workers in Ontario have salaries that exceed the $100,000 threshold. “In Ontario, she said, “ about six per cent of the population of tax filers have an income over $100,000,”.”
According to an article in the Toronto Star in Jan. 2014, the top 100 CEOs earned $7.9 million on average in 2012 while the average Canadian earned $46,634 that year. That means Canada’s top CEOs earned 171 times the average industrial wage. I don’t see that as a better comparison.