Put contractors on the Sunshine List: OPSEU

TORONTO, March 24, 2016 /CNW/ - The president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union is irked that the annual Sunshine List still fails to capture many high-income earners paid from the public purse.

"I'm pleased that Ontarians know who's getting rich – or richer – courtesy of their tax dollars," said Warren (Smokey) Thomas. "It's particularly interesting to see the exorbitant salaries of community college presidents, who work hard to ensure their part-time staff have barely enough to live on.

"But what's missing from this list are all the private contractors, corporate lawyers, and Bay Street bankers who are raking in millions, thanks to our Liberal government. They're paid with public dollars; they should be on the list, too."

The union president noted that Hydro One boss Mayo Schmidt was not on the list.

"When the Liberals sold off 15 per cent of Hydro One, they removed it from the Sunshine List," said Thomas. "Schmidt's annual salary is $4.6 million – four times what his predecessor made. That's the price of privatization, I guess.

"The government loves to congratulate itself on its so-called transparency, but it's hiding tens of billions of dollars from public view. If the Liberals were actually serious about being accountable, they'd bring private corporations and individuals under the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act."

SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)

Warren (Smokey) Thomas, 613-329-1931