Ottawa's public sector got its annual moment of transparency this week as Ontario dropped the 2025 Sunshine List — the provincial government's yearly disclosure of every public employee earning $100,000 or more. And as always, the capital's roster of six-figure earners makes for fascinating reading.
What Is the Sunshine List?
The Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act requires Ontario to publish the names, positions, employers, and salaries of public sector workers earning at least $100,000 annually. First introduced in 1996, the threshold hasn't budged since — meaning inflation has steadily pulled more and more workers onto the list each year. What was once a roster of top executives now includes a much broader swath of nurses, teachers, police officers, and city employees.
Who's at the Top in Ottawa?
Unsurprisingly, Ottawa's highest earners tend to cluster in health care, policing, and senior administration. Hospital executives at The Ottawa Hospital and CHEO routinely appear near the top, alongside senior leadership at the City of Ottawa and Ottawa Police Service. University of Ottawa and Carleton University administrators also feature prominently, as do a number of professors whose salaries have crossed the threshold.
Ottawa Police officers — particularly those in specialized roles or carrying banked overtime — are consistent Sunshine List staples, a point that regularly sparks debate among residents and city councillors about compensation structures in public safety.
The Growing List
The number of Ottawa-area names on the Sunshine List has grown substantially over the past decade. As wages have risen across the public sector through collective bargaining, and as the $100,000 threshold remains frozen in time, the list has expanded from a who's-who of senior management to include thousands of front-line workers. Critics argue this dilutes the list's original intent of holding top earners accountable, while others say full transparency — at every level — is the right approach.
Why It Matters for Ottawa Residents
For Ottawans, the Sunshine List is more than just a curiosity — it's a window into how public money is being spent at hospitals, schools, universities, transit agencies, and city hall. With ongoing debates about OC Transpo funding, housing affordability, and the city's long-term financial sustainability, understanding where salary costs sit in the budget picture matters.
It's also a useful tool for accountability. When a hospital executive's compensation rises significantly in a year that also saw service cuts or layoffs, the list gives residents and journalists the data to ask hard questions.
What to Watch
Look for year-over-year trends in specific sectors — particularly OC Transpo, Ottawa Public Health, and the Ottawa Catholic and public school boards, all of which have faced budget pressures in recent years. Whether salary growth in those organizations tracks with service outcomes is a conversation worth having.
The full list is available on the Ontario government's website, searchable by employer and name.
Source: CBC Ottawa via Google News. Original reporting by CBC.
