Athabasca University released a sunshine list of all university employees with salaries in 2015 that were greater than $125,000.
Under the provincial government’s Public Sector Compensation Transparency Act, nearly 150 government agencies, boards and commissions were required to publicly post employee compensation greater than $125,000, including salary, benefits and severance pay by June 30. The information must remain online for at least five years.
Athabasca University’s sunshine list includes interim President Peter MacKinnon – listed under his first name Robert – who made almost $343,000, plus over $8,000 in “other” monetary benefits. The “other,” explained AU director of communications John O’Brien, is “comprised of the employer’s share of contributions and benefits premiums, plus non-taxable allowance payments.”
Those are the employer’s share of the Universities Academic Pension Plan (UAPP), Canada Pension Plan, Employment Insurance, Workers’ Compensation Board and Alberta Blue Cross premiums, less the benefit premium deducted. The list features 82 employees with salaries over $125,000 in 2015.
Over $325,000 in severance was handed out to three individuals last year.
However, the university’s board of governors was not included on the list.
“Our board members, including the chair, receive no compensation,” O’Brien noted.
University secretary Carol Lund said neither the board chair or public members of the board were paid remuneration in 2015, but the chair’s expenses totaled about $4,440. She said the average expenses for the public members were around $2,250.
The government of Alberta released an expanded sunshine list under the Public Sector Compensation Transparency Act that required annual salaries over $125,000 in the public sector – and $104,754 for government employees – to be released by June 30.
The Act covers public sector bodies, board members, government of Alberta employees, physicians and other health service providers, municipalities and school boards.
“Our government has made significant progress to improve transparency and accountability for Albertans and their tax dollars,” said deputy premier Sarah Hoffman in a June 30 release. “Today’s disclosure complements the important work underway with Bill 19 and is just one more step in ensuring public funds are being well spent.”
Bill 19 refers to the Reform of Agencies, Boards and Commissions Compensation Act in front of the legislature, which will impose an executive compensation framework on agencies, boards and commissions.
There are a few exceptions, however. Keyano College and Alberta Health Services in Fort McMurray have until Sept. 30 to comply, while ATB Financial, the Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo) and the Alberta Teachers’ Retirement Fund have been totally exempt from publicizing their information.
