Which public servants were paid most in ’18-19? Which MLAS earned extra?
REGINA Saskatchewan’s 2018-19 public accounts are now in the public sphere, revealing how much the provincial government paid for services and which public servants took home the most money over the past fiscal year.
The province’s chief forensic pathologist was again the highest-paid employee on the list, with compensation totalling just over $400,000.
Alanna Koch, who was deputy minister to the premier before she departed to contest the Saskatchewan Party leadership, came second — though most of that came from a nearly
$350,000 severance package.
Here’s the list of Saskatchewan government employees with the highest compensation in 2018-19:
■ Shaun Ladham, chief forensic pathologist, Saskatchewan Coroners Service — $400,680
■ Alanna Koch, former deputy minister to the premier, Executive Council — $358,888
■ Robert Wihlidal, former assistant deputy minister, ministry of social services — $342,144
■ Saqib Shahab, chief medical health officer, ministry of health — $330,453
■ James Plemel, chief judge of
Saskatchewan Provincial Court — $321,977
■ Dr. Andreea Nistor, forensic pathologist, Saskatchewan Coroners Service — $320,244
The next 42 names on the list are almost all judges, who make about $300,000. Wedged in among them is ...
■ Denise Werker, deputy chief medical health officer, ministry of health — $300,243
■ Rupen Pandya, deputy minister, Ministry of Finance — $268,427
■ Max Hendricks, deputy minister, ministry of health — $256,446
■ Dr. Peter Gorman, medical consultant, ministry of health — $254,446
Public accounts also detail which Saskatchewan highways got the most attention in 2018-19. The ministry of highways and infrastructure spent a total of $731,782,047 on preserving or enhancing highways over that fiscal year. Here’s the list of which ones got the biggest investments.
■ Highway 1 — $311,692,659
■ Highway 11 — $45,201,180
■ Highway 4 — $35,951,610
■ Highway 7 — $28,707,844
■ Highway 12 — $16,325,447
■ Highway 6 — $15,983,789
Every member of the Legislative Assembly got paid $96,183 simply for being an MLA last fiscal year. But some got a top-up for serving as a minister or for additional duties.
Scott Moe got an additional $84,868 for being premier. Ministers each received $48,969 for their role, while education minister Gord Wyant got $4,469 more for serving as deputy premier.
Speaker Mark Docherty also saw another $48,969 added to his MLA compensation, as did Ryan Meili for serving as leader of the opposition.
Former premier Brad Wall received a transitional allowance of $77,348 upon his departure.
Members also report expenses for travel, communications, constituency assistants and other costs. Here is a list of who spent the most in their capacities as MLAS (rather than ministers).
Not surprisingly, the members representing Saskatchewan’s two northernmost constituencies racked up the highest expenses, mostly due to travel.
■ Buckley Belanger, NDP, Athabasca — $227,916
■ Doyle Vermette, NDP, Cumberland — $204,435
■ Randy Weekes, SP, Biggar-sask Valley — $198,318
■ Nicole Rancourt, NDP, Prince Albert Northcote — $181,481
■ Danielle Chartier, NDP, Saskatoon Riversdale — $178,295
■ Steven Bonk, SP, Moosomin — $173,535
■ Delbert Kirsch, SP, Batoche — $171,261
■ Eric Olauson, SP, Saskatoon University — $169,130
■ David Forbes, NDP, Saskatoon Centre — $168,863
■ David Buckingham, SP, Saskatoon Westview — $168,798