The Ontario Sunshine List publishes the salaries all public service employees that earn more than $100,000 per year.

Here in the County, there were 34 on that list last year, and their salaries made $4.3 million. The highest earner made over $220,000.

The number of County employees on the list has almost doubled in the past 5 years. In 2018, PEC had 18 individuals on the Sunshine List, for a total of $2.2 million.

These salaries are on top of what Shire Hall spends on consultants.

What’s happened in the past five years that could explain the need for so much high-priced help?  Has the population of the County recorded explosive population growth?  Have services been significantly expanded?  Has the job of running the County become that much more complex?  Not that I can see.

Exactly where is the value-for-money proposition for the taxpayer? Has Shire Hall managed to successfully address the doctor shortage? Has it made any real progress on affordable housing ? Have water rates become any more realistic?  Has the condition of our road network been improved? Are our parks, beaches and main streets receiving the attention they deserve?  Is Shire Hall being operated more effectively and efficiently? Has anything really changed for the better?

I suggest “no” to most, if not all, of those questions.

Rick Currie

Wellington