Number of healthcare system and home care agency employees on Sunshine list grows

Two large local public sector health organizations saw increases in the number of employees on the so-called Sunshine List in 2022.

But while one – Brant Community Healthcare System – is explaining the increase, the other – Home and Community Care Support Services – is declining to comment.

Formerly known as the Local Health Integration Network Hamilton, Niagara Haldimand Brant, home and community care’s list of those making more than $100,000 increased to 93 in 2022 from 70 in 2021.

When asked about the increase, the agency declined comment, citing privacy reasons.

“Home and Community Support Services supports best practices for public transparency and accountability,” the organization said in response to a question from The Expositor. “As a partner in Ontario’s healthcare system, we must be able to attract and retain top talent.

“For privacy reasons, Home and Community Care Support Services, cannot discuss personal compensation information beyond the Public Sector Salary Disclosure list.”

The agency is responsible for delivering local health care services including home and community care, access to community services and long-term care home placement.

Brant Community Healthcare System, which includes Brantford General Hospital and Willett Urgent Care Centre, saw its Sunshine List grow to 235 in 2022 from 170 in 2021. There were 222 employees on the list in 2020.

The increase is due to a number of pressures, a spokesperson for the healthcare system said.

“As hospitals have been working through staffing challenges affecting jurisdictions across North America, we did everything possible to maintain access to care including the need to pay employees for overtime,” Alena Lukich, the healthcare system’s chief strategy communications officer, said. “Additionally, this past year, the Ontario government also implemented a one-time temporary retention incentive for nurses program which awarded $5,000 to eligible nurses.

“Lastly, we offered vacation payouts to employees as many of our staff elected to work to respond to the care demands of our community.

David McNeil, the healthcare system’s president and CEO, was the top wage earner in the local health care sector in 2022. He earned $361,859 in 2022 and received $1,151 in taxable benefits.

The other Top 10 local health care sector employees who made more than $100,000 in 2022 include five others from the Brant healthcare system: Dr. Katherine Chorneyko, medical director laboratory, $310,256 and $1,419 in taxable benefits; Dr. Tom Szakacs, infectious disease consultant, $316,877 ($1,396); Dr. Ann Hall, pathologist, $313,729; Dr. Anirudh Goel, vice-president, $299,999, ($1,737) and Martin Ruaux, vice-president, $223,775 ($1,270).

Donna Cripps, the regional lead and chief executive officer at Home Community Care Support Services, earned $300,053 in salary and received $1,923 in taxable benefits in 2022. Martina Rozsa, vice-president, the agency’s home and community care, earned $230,084 ($1,580).

The number of Brant County Health Unit employees on the Sunshine list dropped to 13 in 2022 from 18 in 2021. Dr. Rebecca Comley, Brant County’s medical officer of health, earned $265,879 and received $1,012 in taxable benefits. Meanwhile, Jo Ann Tober, the Brant County Health Unit’s chief executive officer, earned $238,259 ($1,012) in taxable benefits in 2022.

Brent Richardson, who took over as chief executive officer from Tober, earned $205,528 in salary and received $843 in taxable benefits.

Other local health care agencies covered by the Public Salary Disclosure Act include St. Joseph’s Lifecare Centre, John Noble Home, the Grand River Community Health Center and De dwa Da Deys Neys, the Aboriginal Health Centre.

There were three people on the St. Joseph’s Lifecare Center’s Sunshine list, down from six in 2021.

Katrina Marques, infection control manager at St. Joe’s, earned $121,971 in salary and received $3,659 in taxable benefits.

At the John Noble Home, a municipally-owned and operated home for the aged, the number of people earning more than $100,000 remained at six in 2022.

Catherine Mackenzie, a registered nurse was the top wage earner at the home and was paid $117,860 in 2022.

The Grand River Community Health Centre, meanwhile, saw its Sunshine list grow to 12 employees in 2022 from eight in 2021. Dr. Shannon Swartzentruber, a physician, was at the top of the centre’s Sunshine list. She was paid $287,343 in 2022 and received $883 in taxable benefits.

The number of employees on the Aboriginal Health Centre’s Sunshine list remained at six in 2022. Dr. Monica Borkar was paid $155,607 in 2022 and received $495 in taxable benefits.

Borkar was the top wage earner at the center in 2022.

Created by the province’s Public Disclosure Act of 1996, the Sunshine list includes the names, positions and pay of people working for provincially-funded organizations earning more than $100,000 a year.

The legislation requires organizations that receive public funding from the province to report the names, positions and pay of people who make more than $100,000

In 2022, a record 266,903 people made the Sunshine list, up from 244,188 in 2021. The first list, released 27 years ago, had 4,576 names.

For a complete list of those public sector of employees who earned more than $100,000 in 2022 visit www.ontario.ca/public-sector-salary-disclosure/2022/all-sectors-and-seconded-employees/ .

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