I was surprised to learn departing members of the Saskatchewan Legislature – whether they retired or were defeated — receive a lucrative, by my standards, going-away present. With the mass exodus and some crushing defeats, the total being paid out this year was $2.68 million, according to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF). Thirty-one MLAs became eligible for what are called transition allowances. These allowances range from $36,525 to $109,576. The payout is based on the number of years the MLA was in office. An MLA can receive one month’s pay for each year they were in office, up to a maximum of 12 months, according to the CTF.

“Taxpayers shouldn’t be padding the wallets of MLAs headed for the door,” Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director, said in a news release. “Ordinary Saskatchewanians don’t get a golden parachute when they leave their jobs and we shouldn’t be forced to fund one for politicians.” MLAs are currently paid a base salary of just over $109,000. The premier maxes out at a shade under $190,000. Cabinet ministers receive $165,365. The Leader of the Opposition and the Speaker receive the same amount. And there are Whips, Deputies, Chairs and others that receive between $117,000 and $125,000.

When I quit my job of 33 years at the StarPhoenix, I literally didn’t get a handshake or thank you from publisher Marty Klyne. And I most certainly didn’t get a going away bag of cash. I am sure the majority of you are/ were in the same boat. I have three words of advice for politicians who retire or are booted out of office – get a job.

 *****

In Saskatoon, the mayor is paid the same as a provincial cabinet minister — $165,365 annually. Councillors receive 46 per cent of that or, more specifically, a few dollars over $76,000. Councillors in our city are considered part-time, although I am guessing they work close to full time hours. I have no problem with what our mayor and council are paid. Our civic government is the most important to us on the scale of civic, provincial, federal and Donald Trump. These are the folks who make decisions, good or bad, on our behalf on a daily basis. Saskatoon taxpayers pay for police, firefighting, garbage pickup, the maintenance of our infrastructure, the water we drink and on and on. Oh, and they tax the heck out of us. By comparison, the province is more concerned with pronouns and change rooms, and the federal government is an absolute mess.

*****

I went through a mammoth document, by my standards, which lists every city employee and what they were earning annually — as of Dec. 31, 2023. I am not sure if the people mentioned are still in these jobs. I know, for example, that Police Chief Troy Cooper is no longer in that role, and Fire Chief Morgan Hackl retired earlier this year. It was a head-scratcher to me that a police superintendent is the highest paid city employee. It wasn’t as big a surprise when I reviewed the duties of a superintendent.

• Plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the activities of a police force or division of a police force

• Develop and implement police force policies and procedures

• Oversee police investigations and ensure that procedures are conducted in accordance with laws and regulations

• Assess performance of subordinates and authorize promotions, transfers and disciplinary actions

• Co-ordinate and monitor budget and departmental resources.

I am sure it is not fun for a person to have their salary revealed, but the numbers are in public documents. In the interest of fair play, I made $80,000 – with no pension – in the final year of my last fulltime job. It was never about money for me; I was so lucky and grateful for the opportunities I had. That said, had fate not intervened, I could have become a city employee for the long-term.

In 1977, I decided not to go back to university. Instead, I was able to keep my summer job with the Parks Department until October. Had I not been laid off, I wouldn’t have got a job at the StarPhoenix in December. I loved working for the city, but things turned out pretty darn good for me. Now, back to the business at hand. This list starts with the highest paid employees in 2023. If I missed someone, you are probably happy.

• Patrick Nogier, a superintendent with the Saskatoon Police Service, $303,244 (total earnings) $285,244 (regular earnings)

• Troy Cooper, now retired chief of police, $264,002

• Lynne Lacroix, General Manager, Community Services, $256,027 (total earnings), $255,800 (regular earnings)

• Angela Gardiner, general manager, Utilities and Environment, $255,700.

• Clae Hack, CFO and General Manager, $248,327

• Cameron McBride, Deputy Police Chief in 2023 (and now the police chief), $247,619

• Morgan Hackl, Chief, Saskatoon Fire Department (now retired), $234,090 • Celene Anger, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, $225,015

• Carol Cooley, Director of Libraries and CEO, $229,964 (total), $226,904 (regular).

• Marno McInnes, Human Resources Officer, $223,323 (total), $222,906 (regular)

• Mitchell Yuzdepski, Deputy Police Chief, $207,275

• Darren Pringle, police Superintendent, $206,136 (total), $202,522 (regular)

• Blair Pellerin, police Superintendent, $204,777 (total) $203,143 (regular)

• Dale Solie, police Inspector, $202,696 (total) $200,263 (regular)

• Tammy Sweeney, Chief Executive Officer TCU Place, $208,177 (total) $196,254 (regular).

• John Howden, Chief Executive Officer SaskTel Centre, $185,500

• Scott Ford, Executive Director SaskTel Centre, $169,601

• Aileen Burns, Executive Director and CEO Remai Gallery, $120,366

• Johan Lundh, Executive Director and CEO Remai Gallery, $120,577

My guess is police constables on average are at about $115,000 and firefighters are in the same range. There are so many classifications of firefighters it was hard to get a read on it. These folks are worth every penny.

If you want to see the complete list, go to saskatoon. ca and search for public accounts.

– Cam Hutchinson