TORONTO - Ontario's Liberal government is looking to put a cap on executive salaries at some of its most scandal-ridden agencies, such as air ambulance service Ornge and eHealth.
The proposed legislation begins second reading today and would limit compensation to senior executives across the broader public sector, from hospitals and universities to the province's big utilities and Crown corporations.
If it passes second reading, Treasury Board President Deb Matthews says the government will bring in an amendment to add Ornge, eHealth, Local Health Integration Networks, Metrolinx, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. and the LCBO.
The bill would give the government direct control over compensation, including salary, bonuses and severance packages.
The government says the proposed legislation would create sector-specific frameworks, including hard caps, and heads of organizations would be penalized if they don't comply.
The Liberals have come under fire in recent years over generous salaries and severance packages for executives in the public sector, including a $406,000 golden handshake for a former eHealth Ontario CEO and $9.3 million over six years for former Ornge CEO Chris Mazza.
