Ontario’s 2025 Sunshine List reveals top public salaries, with OPG executives leading and over 400,000 workers earning above $100K.
Ontario’s Sunshine List Is Out — And It’s Bigger Than Ever
Ontario’s latest Sunshine List has dropped, and once again, it’s turning heads. Every year, the province releases the names of public sector employees earning over $100,000. However, this year’s list tells a bigger story — not just about top earners, but also about how fast the list itself is growing.
Right away, one thing stands out: more people than ever are making the cut.
A Familiar Name Takes the Top Spot
Leading the pack again is former Ontario Power Generation CEO Kenneth Hartwick. He earned more than $1.9 million in 2025, keeping him firmly at the top. Although his pay dipped slightly from the previous year, he still outpaced everyone else.
Meanwhile, Ontario Power Generation dominates the rankings. In fact, its executives claimed the top five positions and seven of the top ten. Most of them earned well over $1 million, showing how lucrative leadership roles in the energy sector can be.
Close behind, current CEO Nicolle Butcher secured second place with nearly $1.6 million in earnings.
Health Sector Leaders Also Rank High
Beyond energy, health care executives also landed near the top. Kevin Smith of University Health Network earned just under $940,000, while SickKids CEO Ronald Cohn followed with about $880,000.
These figures highlight how leadership in major health institutions continues to command high salaries, especially in large urban centres.
Politicians See Pay Increases
At the same time, Ontario’s political leaders also saw salary boosts.
Premier Doug Ford earned $269,567 in 2025, a noticeable jump from the year before. Interestingly, two of his senior staff members earned even more, signalling how key advisory roles are being highly compensated.
In Toronto, Mayor Olivia Chow also received a raise, bringing her earnings to over $240,000. Still, she was not the highest-paid mayor. That title went to Markham’s Frank Scarpitti, who earned more than $308,000.
The List Keeps Growing — Fast
Perhaps the most striking trend is the size of the list itself. This year, over 404,000 public sector workers earned more than $100,000. That’s a sharp increase from last year’s total.
However, there’s an important detail: the $100,000 threshold hasn’t changed since 1996. When adjusted for inflation, that figure would be closer to $185,000 today.
Because of this, more mid-level professionals — including teachers, nurses, and municipal workers — are now appearing on the list.
What’s Driving the Increase?
According to Treasury Board President Caroline Mulroney, several factors played a role. For example, retroactive pay increases and new collective agreements pushed salaries higher.
Additionally, municipalities contributed significantly to the growth. Police, firefighters, and local services workers made up a large portion of new additions.
As a result, the list now reflects a broader slice of the public workforce, not just top executives.
Police Salaries Draw Attention
In law enforcement, Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah topped the charts with earnings above $600,000. Toronto’s police chief followed, earning over $445,000.
Notably, several Toronto officers facing charges in a major corruption investigation also appeared on the list. Their salaries ranged from just over $130,000 to nearly $180,000, drawing added public scrutiny.
Is the Sunshine List Still Relevant?
While the list was created to spotlight high earners, some argue it no longer serves that purpose well.
Union leader Dave Bulmer says the list has lost meaning over time. Because the salary threshold hasn’t kept up with inflation, it now includes many workers who wouldn’t have been considered high earners decades ago.
In today’s economy — especially in the Greater Toronto Area — $100,000 doesn’t stretch as far as it once did.
The Bigger Picture
So, what does this year’s Sunshine List really show?
On one hand, it highlights top-heavy salaries in sectors like energy and health care. On the other, it reveals how wage growth and inflation have reshaped what counts as a “sunshine” salary.
As the list continues to expand, the conversation is shifting. It’s no longer just about who earns the most — it’s also about whether the benchmark still makes sense in today’s world.
