Ontario’s Sunshine List for 2025 has unveiled the highest-earning public sector employees in the province, with over 400,000 individuals reported. This marks a seven percent increase compared to the previous year. The list, which includes employees earning more than $100,000, was released recently.
Top Earners on Ontario’s 2025 Sunshine List
Leading the list is Ken Hartwick, President of Ontario Power Generation (OPG), who earned a staggering $1,907,408 in 2025. He is followed by OPG CEO Nicolle Butcher, with a salary of $1,596,218. The third highest-paid employee is Steve Gregoris, OPG’s Chief Nuclear Officer, earning $1,092,854.84.
- Ken Hartwick: $1,907,408
- Nicolle Butcher: $1,596,218
- Steve Gregoris: $1,092,854.84
Notably, OPG employees dominate the list, with five of the top earners and seven among the top ten positions. This trend continues from last year, where OPG employees made a significant impact on the earnings reported.
Factors Influencing Salary Increases
Caroline Mulroney, President of the Treasury Board, indicated that various factors contributed to the salary increases seen this year. These include:
- Retroactive payments
- Collective bargaining outcomes
- An additional pay period for multiple organizations
Mulroney noted that municipalities were responsible for over 50 percent of the growth in the Sunshine List. Additionally, more than half of the individuals listed come from public service organizations, including schools and health care, with a substantial portion representing nurses and teachers.
A Historical Perspective
Since 1996, Ontario has publicly disclosed the names, positions, and salaries of public sector employees earning $100,000 or more. However, the income threshold remains unchanged despite inflation, meaning the cutoff in 1996 would equate to around $188,000 today.
Other Notable Earnings in 2025
Several high-profile officials also made the list, including:
- Doug Ford (Ontario Premier): $269,567
- Olivia Chow (Toronto Mayor): $240,349
- Myron Demkiw (Toronto Police Chief): $445,366
- Kevin Smith (University Health Network President): $939,603
- Michael Lindsay (Metrolinx CEO): $327,439
- Nishan Duraiappah (Peel Regional Police Chief): $604,449
- Marit Stiles (Opposition Leader): $233,334
- Melanie Woodin (University of Toronto President): $440,866
- Steven Del Duca (Vaughan Mayor): $218,544
- Ronald Cohn (Hospital for Sick Children President): $880,013
- Tracey MacArthur (Hamilton Health Sciences President): $773,658
As the Sunshine List continues to grow, it remains a critical indicator of public sector compensation and the changing economic landscape in Ontario.
