Government sunshine list balloons by 64 per cent since 2020

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the government of Manitoba to control spending on salaries and wages following the recent release of the government’s 2022 sunshine list that discloses all government salaries that are more than $85,000.

“Taxpayers are struggling while the Manitoba government continues to spend more and more on six-figure salaries.” said Gage Haubrich, Prairie Director of the CTF. “Manitobans are tightening their belts and it’s time for the government to do the same.”

According to the recently released sunshine list data, 20,242 government sector employees made more than $100,000 in 2022. That’s a 64 per cent increase compared to 2020.

In 2020 there were 37,044 employees on the sunshine list. In 2022, 5,178 more employees were added to reach 42,222.

Overall, the government spent $456 million more on paying employees in 2022 compared to 2020.

The average government employee earns 5.5 per cent more than those who work in the private sector. Manitoba government employees also retire 2.1 years earlier and are less likely to lose their job compared to average Manitobans.

The Manitoba government projects a deficit of $363 million this year. By the end of the year, government debt will reach about $31 billion.

“Taxpayers can’t afford the ballooning government wage bill.” Haubrich said. “Premier-Designate Wab Kinew needs to stop the spending of taxpayers’ dollars on massive bureaucrat salaries.”

The sunshine list calculations can be found HERE.