The number of employees at the Ontario Securities Commission, who were paid $100,000 or more last year increased almost 30% over 2002, a new Ontario government report shows.

The report , released Thursday, indicates that in 2004, 137 of the OSC’s employees received more than $100,000 in salary, for a combined $21.7 million. That’s an increase of 29.2% over 2002, when 106 of the OSC’s employees earned at least $100,000.

The report details the salaries of Ontario Public Service and other public sector employees, including employees of the OSC, who were paid $100,000 or more in 2004.

It shows the top earner was outgoing chairman David Brown, who received $641,938. Next was executive director Charlie Macfarlane, who earned $457,152, and vice chair Paul Moore, at $435,646. The other vice chair, Susan Wolburgh Jenah, came fourth at $391,131. Now-departed enforcement counsel, Jay Naster, was paid $332,811.

In 2002, Brown was the top-paid employee at $552,000. At the time, no other OSC employee made as much as $400,000.

Among other financial industry agencies, Dale Richmond, CEO of OMERS, was the highest-paid employee, earning $433,656 in 2004. Paul Haggis, president of OMERS, is the only other one making more than $400,000. Head of the Ontario Pension Board, Donald Weiss, earned $337,435. Andrew Poprawa, head of the Deposit Insurance Corp., made $196,310. Financial Services Commission of Ontario chief Bryan Davies earned $186,509. Combined, OMERS, FSCO, DICO and OPB had 146 employees in 2004 making more than $100,000, for a total compensation of $22.6 million.

The Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act applies to the provincial government, Crown agencies and corporations.

The report of public sector employees who were paid $100,000 or more in 2004 is available on the Ministry of Finance’s website at:
www.gov.on.ca/FIN/english/psecteng.htm