New salary disclosures show it can really pay to work at one of Alberta’s two largest universities.
Steve Bryant, a University of Calgary nanotechnology researcher, earned $737,000 in pay and perks last year. Former University of Alberta president Indira Samarasekera took
home about $584,000.
Under Alberta law, public sector organizations must disclose the salaries of anyone who receives more than $125,000 per year in compensation.
The schools made the information public on Thursday, the province’s deadline for doing so.
Ten per cent of all the University of Alberta’s paid employees received compensation over $125,000. Compensation information for those 1,483 individuals – as well as 22 unpaid members of the Board of Governors – was posted.
Nine people were paid more than $500,000 in 2015, including a vice dean, chair, vice president and several professors. Verna Yiu received $601,771 in compensation while Samarasekera received $546,236 in “compensation” and $37,938 in “other.”
The university’s vice president academic defended the compensation, saying it needs to invest in top teaching and research talent.
“It is vital that Albertans – and young people in particular – have access to post-secondary education that is on par with the best in the world, right in their home province,” Steven Dew said. “That’s what Albertans expect for their investment and that’s what the University of Alberta delivers.”
Dew said compensation at the U of A is in line with other Canadian research-intensive institutions of similar calibre. He also pointed to a 2013 study that shows the U of A had a $12.3-billion impact on Alberta’s economy in 2009-2010 and that alumni contribute $348.5 billion annually to the global economy.
Bill 5, the Public Sector Compensation Transparency Act, requires all public sector agencies, boards and commissions (ABCs) to annually post names and compensation for those higher earners.
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The new salary disclosures from the Alberta government revealed that the head of the Workers’ Compensation Board took home almost $900,000 last year.
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Several other groups already posted salary information on the sunshine list, including the Alberta Electric System Operator and Alberta Health Services.
AESO president and CEO David Erickson took home a salary of $850,731 plus $10,818 in other compensation.
The top two highest-earning AHS employees were vice president Verna Yiu ($601,771) and president and CEO Vickie Kaminski ($574,415).
The executive director of the Alberta Securities Commission, David Linder, received $590,309, the president and CEO of SAIT, David Ross received $518,374 and the president and CEO of NAIT, Glenn Feltham, received $468,392.
To view salary and severance disclosures for the Government of Alberta, click here.
To view updated disclosures for agencies, boards and commissions, click here and select the link “View the consolidated public sector body compensation database.” and click on the link: ”
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The province is also reviewing all salaries on agencies, boards and commissions with an eye to bringing them in line with comparable roles in the public service.
With files from The Canadian Press
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