Brant’s top public-sector earners from 2023 are from health-care field
School board employees, pair of fire chiefs were also well represented on list of top earners
Brantford-Brant’s top five publicsector earners in 2023 were employees of Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS) and Brant County Health Unit (BCHU), according to the disclosure released last week by the province.
Dr. Anirudh Goel, chief of staff and vice-president of medical affairs for BCHS, topped the “sunshine list” for the area at $370,187, a nearly 23 per cent bump from the $301,737 in salary and taxable benefits he made in 2022.
Goel transitioned into his current role in 2021, but has worked at the organization since 2017, according to his BCHS profile.
The disclosure also highlighted some of the recent high-level changes taking place at both health-care organizations, with Jo Ann Tober retiring from her role as CEO of BCHU in June of 2022 — yet still managing to bring in the second-highest public sector earnings for the area for 2023 — and David McNeil retiring from his role as president of BCHS.
The Spectator reached out to BCHU for clarification on Tober’s $333,345 earnings, however, Gary Williams, director of communications, said “specific information” pertaining to current and former employees is confidential, beyond what must be provided in compliance with the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act.
Brantford-Brant’s Top 5
1. Dr. Anirudh Goel, vice-president of BCHS, $370,187
2. Jo Ann Tober, retired CEO of BCHU, $333,345
3. Dr. Katherine Chorneyko, laboratory medical director at BCHS, $322,483
4. Dr. Tom Szakacs, infectious disease consultant at BCHS, $318,931
5. Dr. Ann Hall, pathologist at BCHS, $311,897
County of Brant Top 5
The County of Brant had 97 employees on the payroll earning more than $100,000, nearly half of them (40) paramedics.
Pay went to two fire chiefs in Brant County in 2023 — former chief Geoff Hayman received $167,349, despite Darren Watson taking over the job in March 2023, making $136,141.
When The Spectator asked for clarification, Suzie Keczan, director of communications and public relations for the county, said they are unable to provide additional details, as it is “a confidential employee relations matter involving Mr. Hayman and our organization.”
1. Alison Newton, chief administrative officer, $189,114
2. Robert Walton, general manager of operations, $176,450
3. Jyoti Zuidema, solicitor and corporate counsel, $172,730
4. Cindy Stevenson, general manager of emergency and protective services, $172,730
5. Geoff Hayman, former fire chief, $167,348
Other county notables Pam Duesling,
1. general manager of development services, $166,652
2. Russell King, chief of BrantBrantford Paramedic Services, $159,134
3. Kelly Bernstein, CEO of County of Brant Public Library, $146,458
4. Darren Watson, fire chief, $136,141
5. Will Bouma, MPP for BrantfordBrant, $133,057
6. David Bailey, mayor, $103,877
City of Brantford Top 5
The City of Brantford had 403 employees on the list, 166 of them in law enforcement.
1. Brian Hutchings, chief administrative officer, $265,438
2. Robert Davis, police chief, $258,188
3. Jason Saunders, deputy police chief, $217,828
4. Heidi De Vries, general manager of people, legislated services and planning, $212,128
5. Jason Barber, plainclothes police sergeant, $206,589
Other Brantford notables
1. Inderjit Hans, commissioner of public works, $203,111
2. Todd Binkley, fire chief, $195,471
3. Joelle Daniels, commissioner of corporate services and city treasurer, $194,660
4. Scott Hall, IT director, $181,124
5. Kevin Davis, mayor, $126,864
Highest earners in their profession
Highest paid registered nurse, BCHS, $220,965
Highest paid police constable, City of Brantford, $192,305
Highest paid teacher, Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board (BHNCDSB), $190,564
Highest paid firefighter, City of Brantford, $161,284
Highest paid primary care paramedic, County of Brant, $127,288
Highest paid registered practical nurse, BCHS, $125,675
Highest paid advanced care paramedic, County of Brant, $118,070
Notables in education
At the Grand Erie District School Board (GEDSB), 1,065 employees were making over $100,000. At the BHNCDSB, 447 employees made the list — with two secondary teachers nearing the $200,000 mark.
While Wilfrid Laurier and Conestoga have campuses in Brantford, the presidents topping this list oversee campuses across multiple cities in Ontario.
1. John Tibbits, president of Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, $497,635
2. Deborah MacLatchy, president of Wilfrid Laurier University, $362,741
3. JoAnna Roberto, director of education for GEDSB, $234,050
4. Michael McDonald, director of education and secretary for BHNCDSB, $209,224
5. Megan Robinson, unit manager of community services for Six Nations Polytechnic, $113,719
Notables in health
Brent Richardson stepped into the CEO role at BCHU on June 9, 2022, and received almost $100,000 less in 2023 than retired CEO Tober did.
BCHS had two presidents on the payroll last year. When McNeil retired from his role in June 2023, Erin Sleeth stepped from chief human resources officer into the role of interim president and CEO.
1. Erin Sleeth, president of BCHS, $307,122
2. Dr. Rebecca Comley, medical officer of health for BCHU, $256,494
3. Deepani (Dee) Perera, vice-president at BCHS, $246,171
4. Brent Richardson, CEO at BCHU, $239,247
5. David McNeil, president at BCHS, $233,455
Other Brantford-Brant notables
1. Manuel Figueiredo, president and CEO of YMCA Of Hamilton/ Burlington/Brantford, $262,801
2. Cristin Ladner, executive director of Community Living Brant, $152,211
3. Michael Benin, executive director of Canadian Mental Health Association Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk Branch, $148,395
4. Maria Fortunato, executive director of Hamilton Halton Brant Regional Tourism Association, $146,282
5. Laurie Iorio, executive director of the Group Home For Deaf-Blind Persons (Brantford), $143,649 CELESTE PERCY-BEAUREGARD’S REPORTING IS FUNDED BY THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT THROUGH ITS LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE.