Woolwich and Wellesley townships contributed 19 members to a list of people on the public dime who earned more than $100,000 in 2022.
Across Ontario, the list – which includes doctors, nurses, teachers, police and firefighters in addition to civil servants – some 267,000 workers, up 9.4 per cent from 244,000 in 2021. The provincial government attributes about 80 per cent of the additions to the salaries of nurses and teachers.
The provincially mandated salary information, known as the sunshine list, at the end of March.
Topping the list again in 2022 was the CEO of Ontario Power Generation (OPG), Kenneth Hartwick, who was paid $1.7 million. Two other executives at the organization, Dominique Miniere and Michael Martelli made nearly $1.7 million and nearly $1 million, respectively.
The top-10 list was rounded out by Kevin Smith, the president and CEO of University Health Network ($932,085); Phil Verster, the CEO of Metrolinx ($869,458); Ronald Cohn, CEO of The Hospital For Sick Children($833,689); Matt Anderson, CEO of Ontario Health($832,603); Mark Fuller, CEO of the Ontario Public Service Pension Board ($829,123); Timothy Rutledge, CEO of Unity Health Toronto ($801,185) and Christopher Ginther of OPG ($789,801).
In Woolwich, chief administrative officer David Brenneman was the highest paid of township employees, taking in $163,625.81. Director of finance/treasurer Richard Petherick received $130,894.85. The same was true of director of development services Deanne Friess and director of infrastructure services Jared Puppe.
Fire chief Dennis Aldous was paid $113,941.46. Manager of planning Jeremy Vink was paid $109,586.17, as was chief building official David Heuchert. Manager of operations Carter Maguire was paid $119,097.21.
Director of information services Jeff Smith was paid 103,958.34, while manager of operations and projects Thomas van der Hoff got $106,125.30. Recreation manager Jennifer Horndl received $105,238.79.
The Woolwich list was rounded out by Bryce McDonald, supervisor of water/wastewater, at $101,463.85 and engineering technologist Randy Miller at $101,071.07.
In Wellesley, chief administrative officer Rik Louwagie was paid $150,653.54. Clerk Grace Kosch made $111,196.08. Chief building official Darryl Denny and fire chief Paul Redman each received $110,935.88. Director of public works Chris Cook made $110,727.94. Recreation director Danny Roth was paid $110,531.27.
The regional government had 634 people on the list, up from 481 in 2021. Chief administrative officer Bruce Lauckner was paid $315,412.40. The Waterloo Regional Police reported 739 people making more than $100,000, up from 730 the year before. The now-retired chief Bryan Larkin was paid $305,187.73 last year, while his successor, Mark Crowell, received $245,461.81 in payments during 2022.
When first introduced in 1996, the list contained 4,319 names. Inflation is responsible for much of the increase.
