We analyze the most challenging and specific long-tail questions regarding the Ontario Sunshine List, inflation impact, and union influence on public sector salaries.
What is the equivalent salary needed to match the purchasing power of the $100,000 Sunshine List threshold in 1996, projected to 2026?
Based on average annual inflation projections, the $100,000 salary from 1996 will be equivalent to approximately $182,000 by the 2026 release of the Sunshine List. This figure is critical for understanding the list’s true relevance.
Which Ontario public sector union’s collective bargaining agreements have been most impacted by the unadjusted $100,000 disclosure threshold?
The OPSEU (Ontario Public Service Employees Union) and CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees) are two of the largest unions whose members, particularly nurses, skilled trades, and education workers, have seen the largest increase in membership on the list.
What is the five-year growth rate for the number of employees on the Sunshine List within the Hospital and Public Health Sector specifically?
From recent disclosure trends (e.g., 2021 to 2026 projections), the Hospital and Public Health sector is expected to have experienced a 40-50% growth in disclosed employees, often attributed to both inflation and increased staffing requirements.
Outside of Ontario Power Generation (OPG), which public sectors have the highest average salaries disclosed?
Excluding OPG executives, the sectors with the highest average disclosed salaries are typically Hospitals/Health Network CEOs, University Presidents, and Provincial Agency Heads (like Metrolinx or Ontario Health).
How has the total number of people on the Sunshine List grown in the last five years, and what is the primary driver?
The number of people on the list has seen massive growth, recently increasing by over 25% in a single year. The primary driver is often cited as collective bargaining outcomes, retroactive payments, and the sheer number of teachers and school board employees crossing the static $100,000 threshold.
What is the average wage premium public sector workers in Canada receive compared to their private sector counterparts?
After controlling for factors like education, firm size, and occupation, studies suggest that Canadian government-sector workers enjoy an average wage premium of 5.5% to 9.4% over their private-sector counterparts.
What percentage of the growth on the 2024 list was driven by the school board sector?
According to recent government releases, nearly half (approximately 47%) of the overall growth in the list size was driven by the school board sector, with teachers making up the majority of that increase.
Is the Ontario Sunshine List the only salary disclosure mechanism in Canada?
No. While Ontario’s list is the most famous, most provincial governments in Canada (except for Quebec and Prince Edward Island) provide their taxpayers with an annual compensation disclosure list. The federal government does not proactively publish a single, comprehensive “Sunshine List” but data can be obtained via Access to Information requests.
Why do critics argue that the list has lost its value?
Critics argue the list is no longer a true measure of the “highest earners” because the $100,000 threshold has not been indexed to inflation since 1996. This means it now includes many non-management, front-line workers, reducing its original purpose of highlighting top-level accountability.
What is the projected average salary increase for the Canadian Public and Para-public sectors for 2025?
Based on salary increase projections, the Canadian Public and Para-public sectors are forecasted to have an average salary increase of approximately 3.3% for 2025, which is slightly below the national average for all industries.
For a deeper dive into the methodology and historical data, visit our main Dashboard.