Culture and Tourism

Alberta Public Sector Salary Disclosure - Sunshine List 2018

Alberta first started publishing the Sunshine List in 2014 following the 2012 election of Alison Redford.

The salary and severance disclosure, makes Alberta's public sector more open and accountable to taxpayers. The act requires organizations that receive public funding from the Province of Alberta to make public the names, positions, salaries and total taxable benefits of employees paid 136,805 or more in the previous calendar year.

At SunshineListStats.com, we rank employees from organizations that received public funding from the Province of Alberta and earn over $136,805 per year, including total taxable benefits.

This year's sunshine list includes the top earners in Culture and Tourism, including:

2018 Alberta Sunshine List: Culture and Tourism Top Earners

Every year, the Alberta government publishes its annual Sunshine List of public sector servants with six-figure salaries. According to the document, Culture and Tourism's 65 staffers made the Sunshine List, earning total compensation of $8,512,987.62 in 2017.

At the top of the Culture and Tourism Sunshine List

Topping the list for the Culture and Tourism was Deputy Minister Meryl Whittaker, who brought home $269,426.78 in 2017.

Following Meryl Whittaker was ADM, Heritage Division David Link, with annual earnings of $200,404.88. ADM, Pol. & Strategic Corp Ser CarolAnn Kushlyk made $199,424.42, ADM, Executive Manager 2 Tracy Wyrstiuk made $187,283.72, and ADM, Tourism Christopher Heseltine round out the top-five highest-paid employees with $182,501.54 for the Culture and Tourism 2018 Sunshine List.

Breaking down the numbers

Among employees who received more than six-figure salaries in 2017, 18 received earnings between $100,000 and $110,000 followed by 33 who received between $110,001 and $150,000 , 12 received between $150,001 and $200,000 , 1 received between $200,001 and $250,000 , 1 received between $250,001 and $300,000 at the Culture and Tourism.

For a complete list of public sector employees who made the 2018 Sunshine List, go to Sunshine List 2018 Employees List. If you wish to analyze the list by the employer, go to Sunshine List 2018 Employers List.

What is disclosed and thresholds

• Compensation includes base salary, overtime, bonuses, honoraria paid to board members and taxable benefits. This category essentially reflects the income amount on the person’s T4.
• Severance reflects amounts paid or payable related to termination of employment, including retiring allowance.
• Non-monetary (other) benefits are generally non-taxable benefits including the employer’s portion of pension contributions, employment insurance, Canada Pension Plan and Workers' Compensation Board premiums.
• Employment and/or severance contracts for:
  • Designated executives under the Reform of Agencies, Boards and Commissions Compensation Regulation
  • Designated executives under the Reform of Agencies, Boards and Commissions (Post-Secondary Institutions) Compensation Regulation
  • The Chief Executive Officer of Alberta Health Services
  • The Chief Executive Officer of the Alberta Electric System Operator

Employee thresholds

Public sector bodies are required to post online the names and amount of compensation and severance paid to employees who earn more than the threshold amount for that disclosure period.

For December disclosures, if no severance was paid, disclosure is not required.