Province reveals its $100,000-plus earners

Last-minute injunction bid delays disclosure

Alberta’s top-10 highest paid government employees earned more than $3.5 million between them in 2013, says the province’s new sunshine list released Friday.

The list includes roughly 3,300 compensation records for government employees who earn more than $100,000 per year. The database details include salary, cash and non-cash benefits, severance amounts, along with contract and termination agreements whenever possible.

A Journal analysis of the data revealed the 10 highest paid government employees when considering base salary and cash benefits.

At the top of the list was former Service Alberta deputy minister Jay Ramotar, who earned a $205,578 salary and $200,800 in cash benefits, which included vacation pay, lump-sum payouts and overtime. Ramotar left the public service in September 2013.

Most of the highest paid in 2013 were medical professionals, including chief medical examiner Dr. Anny Sauvageau, and the chief medical officer of health, Dr. James Talbot. The top-10 list also included Peter Watson, deputy minister of executive council, which is the highestranking position in the public service, and Farouk Adatia, Premier Alison Redford’s chief of staff.

The highest paid Alberta diplomat in 2013 was Gary Mar, who lost to Redford for the premier’s job. Mar earned $322,000 in salary and benefits as the province’s trade representative in Asia.

Don Scott, associate minister for accountability, transparency and transformation, called the new policy the “gold standard.”

“This, I believe, sets the standard for every other jurisdiction in Canada,” Scott said Friday.

In a statement posted to her Facebook page, Redford said the policy is another step in her commitment toward greater transparency and accountability.

“For those employees whose salaries will be disclosed today, I know it is not an easy day. It’s never comfortable for our salaries to be disclosed and debated publicly.”

The list’s release was delayed until late Friday afternoon following a last-minute application for an injunction filed by a Crown prosecutor who argued the disclosure of her name and salary could open her up to safety concerns and fraud. Her name is protected by a court-ordered publication ban.

The temporary injunction was granted, forcing government staffers to spend roughly 40 hours removing the records of about 300 prosecutors overnight Thursday.

Scott said he wasn’t surprised that some were uncomfortable with the new policy. “This is something brand new for Alberta and obviously it marks a big change,” he said.

Agencies, boards and commissions aren’t included in the policy.

Instead, the government will expect they develop their own equivalent policy.

It also doesn’t apply to municipalities or Alberta Health Services employees.

Scott said no timeline has been set for other publicly funded organizations to adopt their own disclosure policies.

“I’m expecting as we got forward we are going to be working with the agencies, boards and commissioners so that they live up to the spirit of what we’re doing,” Scott added.

The list’s threshold of $100,000 will be adjusted for inflation in future years. The sunshine list will be updated twice yearly, and no later than June 30 and Dec. 31. It currently includes records for the 2012 and 2013 calendar years.