Hospitals release executives’ salaries, contracts
Posted Jan 3, 2012 02:14:50 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Most of Ontario’s hospitals, including those here in the region, are releasing the employment contracts and salaries of their CEO’s and other top executives today.
Hospitals became subject to freedom of information legislation on New Year’s Day, but most are posting the information online today, rather than waiting for requests.
Locally, Grand River Hospital President and CEO, Malcolm Maxwell topped the list, making $424,624.20 in 2010. Chair of the Grand River Hospital Board, D’ Arcy Delamere says executive salaries are based on a review of 14 similar hospitals, which does not necessarily include other local hospitals. “The reality in our market place is that we are the larger hospital that has a more complex mix of clinical and other programs,” Delamere explains. “So, in that sense, it’s not necessarily fair to compare us to other local hospitals.”
The President of St. Mary’s Hospital, Don Shilton made $247,200 and the hospital’s Past Chair, Rob Way, says they believe the community is getting good value for their tax dollars. “Not only are we the regional cardiac centre, but we’re one of the leading cardiac programs in the province,” Way says. “St. Mary’s is one of the top five safest hospitals in the country and we have among the lowest hospital infection rates in the province.”
At Cambridge Memorial Hospital, President & CEO, Patrick Gaskin made $285,000. CMH board chair Chuck Phillips says taxpayers are getting their money’s worth, saying Gaskin has been an asset as the hospital implemented its Hospital Improvement Plan, “which has converted a deficit into a surplus for the last year and we’re on our way to a surplus this year,” he says.
The representatives of all three hospitals seem to agree that releasing the information is a good thing.
“I think that when we use the public funds we should be held accountable for the use of those funds,” Delamere says.
Way agrees, saying that St. Mary’s board is “100 percent behind it.”
Phillips says, “We think it’s a good thing and we’ve always been all about transparency at our hospital.”
You can see the salaries, expenses, and contracts at the hospital’s respective websites, available through the links below.
tiffany.hendsbee@570news.rogers.com
