CANADA
The Government of the Canadian Province of Ontario has suspended projected pay increases for senior Public Servants, effectively reinstating a wage freeze that until recently had been in place for the better part of a decade.
The new freeze also extends to workers for school boards, universities, colleges and hospitals.
In a statement, the Government said salary restrictions would remain in effect until a review of the compensation program for executives was completed in June next year.
The new directive came as the Progressive Conservative Government led by Doug Ford implemented a hiring freeze across the public sector while it conducted “a line-by-line audit of the Province’s books”.
However, critics said the freeze on executive remuneration had gone on for too long and limited the ability of public organisations to attract and retain talent.
They included President of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, Cathy Abraham who said the board’s employees were no longer being properly compensated for the work they did.
She was supported by President of the Council of Ontario Universities, David Lindsay (pictured) who said his sector helped develop a work force to keep the Province globally competitive, conducted research and developed innovative ideas.
“For universities to make those contributions to our society, they need to be able to attract people who can lead large, complex organisations,” Mr Lindsay said.
However, spokesperson for Mr Ford, Simon Jefferies said the Government was elected with a mandate to “clean up Ontario’s fiscal house”.
“This will require some long overdue fiscal discipline and spending restraint, and everyone will need to contribute. Controlling the growth in executive compensation is an important step in this effort,” Mr Jefferies said.
Toronto, 18 August, 2018
