Wynne justifies bonuses for organizers

TOrONTO • Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne is defending a $7-million bonus package for 64 executives organizing the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games, saying it was necessary to avoid losing key personnel ahead of the event.

“We may think it’s out of whack in terms of comparing it with other endeavours,” she said Monday.

“but the reality is we were competing for multi-sport games with other jurisdictions around the Americas, and that’s the structure we put in place in order to be able to compete and draw the Games here.

“I think we should be celebrating that. We should be celebrating that we won the Games.”

The $1.4-billion budget for the Games doesn’t include $700-million to build the athletes’ village or $10-million for the provincial Pan Am secretariat, which oversees TO2015.

Ian Troop, ceO of the Pan Am committee, was paid a base salary of $390,000 last year plus an $87,000 bonus. He’s eligible for a $780,000 bonus if the Games come in on budget and on time.

Pan Am executives earning between $190,000 and $250,000 will be eligible for bonuses of up to 100% of their annual pay when the Games are over — half for staying on the job and the other half conditional on performance.

The conservatives say it’s ridiculous TO2015 executives are in line for generous bonuses for “sleepwalking” through the job they were hired to do.

“When it’s 200% of your salary when you’re making $477,000, that’s a problem,” said Tory critic rod Jackson. “We’re not getting value for our money.”

The premier slammed some of those well-paid executives last week for billing taxpayers for “ridiculous” expenses like a 91-cent parking fee and a $1.89 cup of tea. The Liberals have since ordered TO2015 to tighten its expense rules.

Tourism, culture and Sport Minister Michael chan said the Pan Am Games will be even bigger than the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, with more than 10,000 athletes and officials from 41 nations, who will compete in 51 sports.

It’s unbelievable that Ms. Wynne can act outraged about a 91-cent expense, but not blink an eye at a $780,000 bonus, said NdP leader Andrea Horwath.

“Most people in Ontario won’t see that kind of money in 10 years of work and the premier tries to say this is about job creation,” she said. “No, this is about $780,000 that might have actually provided jobs for 10 people.”