Ontario Mayors Call for Update to Sunshine List Amid Inflation Concerns
Toronto, October 1, 2024 – Mayors from small Ontario municipalities are pushing for a reform to the province’s Sunshine List, claiming the current salary reporting threshold of $100,000, set in 1996, is outdated. The list, which publicly discloses salaries of public sector employees earning $100,000 or more, no longer reflects modern economic conditions, they argue.
Bob Mullin, the mayor of Stirling-Rawdon, a township with a population of around 5,000, expressed frustration over the unchanged threshold, stating that inflation has significantly eroded the value of the salary. “What was considered a high wage in 1996 is now far more common, yet the reporting limit remains the same,” he said. “If adjusted for inflation, today’s equivalent would be closer to $180,000.”
Mullin and other mayors, including Frances Smith of Central Frontenac, argue that small towns face unique challenges, with public disclosures often leading to privacy concerns for employees whose salaries are made public. Additionally, they claim the transparency puts small municipalities at a disadvantage when competing with private companies or larger towns for workers.
“Our residents, especially seniors, struggle to grasp how $100,000 can be a modest salary these days, given the changes in the cost of living,” Smith said. “It’s time for the government to adjust the Sunshine List to reflect current economic realities.”
The Ontario government, however, has shown no interest in adjusting the threshold. According to a statement from Minister Caroline Mulroney, the $100,000 limit ensures year-over-year transparency and allows taxpayers to compare public sector spending. Despite these concerns from local leaders, there are currently no plans to change the reporting requirement.
The Sunshine List, introduced in the name of public accountability, continues to stir debate as inflation drives up salaries and erodes purchasing power. As the demand for an updated system grows, small towns are hopeful the provincial government will consider the economic realities of 2024 and revise the salary reporting criteria.