Wynne Liberals must release hidden Hydro One executive salaries in Sunshine List
QUEEN’S PARK – Today, Ontario PC Energy Critic Todd Smith demanded that the Wynne Liberals stop hiding Hydro One salaries from the public, and publish them simultaneously with this year’s Sunshine List of public sector salaries over $100,000. If no action is taken, MPP Smith will introduce a Private Member’s Bill to stop the secrecy and put Hydro One salaries back on the Sunshine List through amendments to the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act.
Despite Hydro One still being majority-owned by the public, the Wynne Liberals eliminated oversight immediately following the announcement of the Hydro One fire sale. The thousands of highly-paid executives at Hydro One will be glaringly absent from the Sunshine List for the second year in a row.
“Kathleen Wynne has admitted that she’s lost control of multi-million dollar CEO compensation. But what’s most galling is that she keeps these Hydro One salaries secret, while families are getting their electricity shut off in the middle of winter,” said Smith. “It’s clear the Wynne Liberals are completely out of touch.”
“The government’s unaffordable electricity prices are driving families into energy poverty, yet the Wynne Liberals’ priority is burying Hydro One salaries into secrecy. This government is anything but open and transparent,” added Smith. “Premier Wynne should prove she has nothing to hide. She should stop the secrecy and reveal the salaries at Hydro One.”
Background:
- More than 4,300 employees of Hydro One and its subsidiaries were included on the 2015 Sunshine List of those making more than $100,000 annually
- 77 per cent of Hydro One full-time employees were included on the 2015 Sunshine List
- In 2014 the Hydro One CEO was the top-ten best paid public sector employees, making $745,208
- Compared to the new Hydro One CEO who earns $4 million a year with bonuses, the CEO for Hydro Quebec makes $483,000 and the BC Hydro CEO makes $489,000