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Sadly, however, these changes continue to leave the millions of dollars paid each year to private contractors and Bay Street lawyers hidden in the shadows." — Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President
Toronto (08 Sept. 2016) — New regulations on executive pay announced on September 6 by the Ontario government are a step in the right direction, but fail to increase transparency and accountability around government payments to the growing number of private contractors, says the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE).
New rules on executive pay welcomed, but should include transparency on how much is paid to private contractors
“After significant public pressure, the government has taken a step in the right direction by setting out clear guidelines for executive pay in the broader public sector,” said Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President. “Sadly, however, these changes continue to leave the millions of dollars paid each year to private contractors and Bay Street lawyers hidden in the shadows.
“As we’ve been pointing out for years, it’s past time to shine a light on these payments," Thomas continued. "That’s why we’ve called on the Liberals at Queen’s Park to put government contractors on the “Sunshine List” under the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act. These contractors are being paid with public money to do work in the public interest, but this government continues to act as if the public doesn’t deserve to know where their money is going.”
Meaningful consultation now a requirement in future discussions on executive compensation
The new regulations also include a requirement that organizations undertake meaningful consultation with the public as part of the process of determining the appropriate compensation for executives. This move, which will allow the public a say in the compensation framework, is a positive step that OPSEU/NUPGE looks forward to taking part in.
“I’m pleased to see the introduction of the requirement for real, meaningful public consultation on executive compensation,” noted Thomas. “After all, these are public organizations. We built them, we own them, and we all rely on them for the critical services they provide."
OPSEU/NUPGE looking forward to participating in consultations
“OPSEU/NUPGE members who work for these public organizations look forward to participating thoroughly in these consultations to share their perspectives on appropriate compensation levels for executives," Thomas concluded.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 360,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE