THUNDER BAY – NEWS – The City of Thunder Bay reported 759 disclosure records on Ontario’s 2025 Sunshine List, which adds up to nearly $104 million in salaries paid to municipal employees earning at least $100,000 during the year.
This figure is significant for a city the size of Thunder Bay. Compared to other similar municipalities in Ontario, Thunder Bay had the highest number of municipal Sunshine List records per 10,000 residents, even when police services were included in cities that report police employees separately.
Nevertheless, this figure doesn’t necessarily mean that Thunder Bay has 759 senior managers or indicate that City Hall is inefficient. A large part of the list includes police officers, firefighters, and paramedics. Additionally, Thunder Bay employs Superior North EMS staff who serve the broader District of Thunder Bay, while some comparison cities provide these services through a county or separate agency.
A more nuanced conclusion would suggest that Thunder Bay raises enough questions about overtime pay, staffing levels, retroactive payments, and wage agreements. The Sunshine List alone can’t answer those queries.
Understanding What the Sunshine List Represents
According to Ontario’s Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act, public-sector employers must disclose the names, positions, salaries paid and taxable benefits of employees earning at least $100,000 within a calendar year.
The 2025 disclosure was made public on March 27, 2026. It reflects earnings received throughout 2025 and may not solely represent an employee’s regular base salary. Overtime pay, paid duty assignments, acting pay adjustments as well as retroactive adjustments can all contribute to this total.
The province highlighted that retroactive payments and outcomes from collective bargaining played roles in increasing salaries during 2025.
Comparing City Employers
Net News Ledger compared Thunder Bay with seven other Ontario municipalities that share similar populations or northern service conditions. Population statistics come from Statistics Canada’s preliminary estimates for July 1, 2025.
Municipality 2025 estimated population City-employer disclosure records Average disclosed city salary City disclosed salary payroll Thunder Bay 117,671 759 $136,997 $104.0 million Greater Sudbury 188,504 807 $129,699 $104.7 million Barrie 174,469 817 $133,419 $109.0 million Guelph 160,760 673 $125,726 $84.6 million Kingston 149527 415 $126690 $52.6 million Brantford 123521 540 $132864 $71.7 million Peterborough 97834 451 $136101 $61.4 million Sault Ste Marie 81182 171 $132463 $22.7 million
The initial findings show that Thunder Bay ranks third in terms of raw city-employer records behind Barrie and Greater Sudbury but holds the title for the highest average salary among disclosed city records in this comparison-just ahead of Peterborough.
These averages only apply to employees exceeding the $100k threshold; they don’t reflect average salaries across all municipal workers. A city with numerous employees just above this threshold might show lower averages than one with fewer but higher-paid workers.
Why This Ranking Isn’t Simply Comparable
Employer naming conventions vary across Ontario.
Cities like Thunder Bay, Barrie , Brantford , Greater Sudbury , and Peterborough include police personnel within their city-employer disclosures. In contrast , Guelph , Kingston , and Sault Ste Marie report their police services under separate employer names.
This difference means comparing only city-employer figures could make Thunder Bay seem larger because its police are included while others are not.
Including separately reported police services provides a more helpful-even if still imperfect-comparison:
Municipality Police records added Adjusted city plus police records Records per 10 ,000 residents Thunder Bay Already included 759 64.5 Guelph 265 938 58.3 Barrie Already included 817 46.8 Peterborough Already included 451 46.1 Brantford Already included 540 43.7 Kingston 227 642 42.9 Greater Sudbury Already included 807 42.8 Sault Ste Marie 148 319 39.3
The adjusted results reveal Guelph had the largest combined count for both city and police categories; however, T thunder bay maintained its top position with a ratio of 64.5 records per every ten thousand residents-approximately eleven percent higher than Guelph and around thirty-eight percent more than Barrie.
A Five-Year Overview for Thunder Bay
The number disclosed by the City has consistently grown over each of the past four years:
Disclosure year City records Average disclosed salary Disclosed salary payroll 2021 547 $127 ,171 69.6 million 2022 599 128305 76.9 million 2023 639 128734 82.3 million 2024 699 127581 89.2 million 2025 759 136997 104 million
From 2021 until now, T thunder bay saw an increase by two hundred twelve disclosures (or roughly thirty-eight point eight percent). The overall payroll rose nearly forty-nine point four percent since then as well p >
The largest dollar increase occurred in twenty twenty-five when disclosed payroll grew by about fourteen point eight millions dollars; it doesn’t always equate directly to permanent wage hikes due to unique timing issues affecting retroactive payments throughout Ontario during twenty twenty-five p >
Who Makes Up Thunder Bay’s List?
The most commonly reported positions on this list illustrate why it shouldn’t be viewed purely as a roster filled with senior executives :
146 First Class Constables ;
123 Firefighters ;
90 Primary Care Paramedics ;
23 Police Sergeants ;
22 Fire Captains ;
22 Communication Centre Operators.
Together alone – First Class Constables along with Firefighters & Primary Care Paramedics constituted three hundred fifty nine entries or almost half (47 %)of what appears on record here.
Among individual disclosures within T thunder bay , Police Chief Darcy Fleury ranked highest at three hundred eighteen thousand eight hundred forty-seven dollars & ninety cents ($318847 /90) followed closely behind by City Manager Jean Claude Collin receiving three hundred seven thousand two hundred ninety-seven dollars & ninety-nine cents ($307297/99). Both figures represent annual totals rather than baseline contractual amounts.
The Distinction Created By Superior North EMS
Operating Superior North EMS extends beyond just delivering care locally-it serves whole district areas too! Approximately two hundred paramedics work within city’s operations alone : about one-hundred fifteen stationed directly here while another ninety serve elsewhere outwards reaching unincorporated districts thereby influencing overall tallying numbers significantly when measuring against resident counts.
This differentiation matters greatly because some individuals listed are actually providing vital regional services beyond mere municipal boundaries.
Other municipalities often showcase structural differences too; take Peterborough County where they distinctly categorize county/paramedic workers apart allowing comparisons less skewed toward isolated employer lines lacking accuracy.
The Meaning Behind The $100K Benchmark Has Evolved Over Time
Ontario established its initial reporting limit back way back back when law emerged circa nineteen ninety-six setting threshold untouched since then without any inflationary adjustment being applied ever since ! strong > P > Based upon Stats Canada’s Consumer Price Index evaluations: what once meant purchasing power equivalent roughly equals today ‘s amount nearing around one-hundred eighty five k(roughly).. Therefore we see much broader representation captured now compared previously.. ” This growth indicates many experienced public sector professionals appear whilst hitting fixed limits even though real buying potential may shift less drastically-meaning growth seen doesn’t translate neatly into proportionality regarding management expansions/staff boosts/service quality upticks thus raising concerns amongst taxpayers alike. P > Please consider : • T thunder bay possesses elevated rates concerning municipality disclosures relative compared elsewhere near population scale; • Average revealed compensation lands highest amongst examined eight cities ; • Cumulative values surrounding T thunder bay have spiked upwardly substantially witnessed post twenty-twenty-one; • Police/fire/paramedic representatives form notable shares evident over locality listings! strong > P > However it’s equally crucial clarifying notions: * Not all recorded personnel exceed benchmark; * Total aggregate does NOT equate full payload reaching forward hence output figures often misrepresented ! ; * More importantly -no clear indicators emerge showing absolute managerial distributions outweigh peer benchmarks ! * Finally reflecting poor performance despite inflated tallies borne out current budget structures entirely dependent upon property tax bases present-day realities faced continuously. So what constitutes best practices moving forward? Perhaps initiating reports geared towards transparency detailing comp data needed addressing major inquiries along these lines: * Just how much earnings constitute core versus additional payments like overtime etc.? * Which departments yield predominant increases causing operational pressures? * How many full-time equivalents exist across various divisions yielding insights into crossings ? * How much overtime burden associated vacancies/sick leave/minimum staffing dictated situations arise ? * Finally ascertain funding sources contributing each service -is taxpayer money primarily driving costs alongside user fees ? Underlining approach yields clearer assessments prompting responsible judgements from constituents themselves evaluating return value derived tangible benefits secured through governance investments made! To conclude; T thunder bay found itself grappling extensive sunshine listing amidst comparably sized counterparts yet managing distinguish itself atop respective metrics presented herein demonstrating ratios indicative despite necessary adjustments undertaken so far alongside restructuring dynamics involved shaping fiscal realities encountered currently affecting citizens daily lives everywhere nearby.* Furthermore shedding light demands breaking down underlying components better illustrating pathways traced regarding allocations determining worthiness reflected ultimately serving communities involved effectively enough fulfilling expectations held onto closely forever onward unyieldingly seeking continual improvement achieved ahead! Through Netnewsledger analysis utilizing ontario ‘ s latest public sector data basis aggregating employer groupings demonstrated calculating techniques implemented whereby excluding benefits rendering final average outcomes laid bare practically speaking clear illustrative trends recognized displayed effectively seen herebelow: Calculating based populations derived obtained census statistics coming forth showcasing specific patterns emerging presenting disaggregation analysis undertaken before us indeed validates assertions rendered foregone conclusions aptly observed examining depth scrutiny required weighing validity efficiently intact notwithstanding imperfections built therein always necessary adding context beyond surface-level observations expected routinely encountered during engagements promoting accountability necessary throughout stages governance served diligently proceeding forward together successfully overcoming challenges met head-on through collaborative approaches embraced regularly impacting local community engagement sustainably reimagining future possibilities hinged continual progress realized toward improving experiences endured locally driven inherently crafted deservedly shared openly forevermore! What These Figures Indicate – And What They Don’t Reveal! H4 >
Questions Voters And Candidates Should Raise Before City Council Meetings:
In Summary :
Methodological Framework Utilized In Study :
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