The Sunshine List was created in Ontario in 1996 under the Mike Harris Conservative government, so almost 30 years ago.
Holding fast to a figure like “$100,000” as a fixed point, a kind of financial North Star, to gauge what we are to consider excessive wealth while inflation does what inflation will do, is blatantly wrong-headed.
Even the gameshow “The 100, 000 Dollar Pyramid” started out as “The 10,000 Dollar Pyramid”. Basically, if you think public employees should have their wages frozen to some 30-year-old idea of wealth, then the problem is you.
Harris’ petty intent (which the media perpetuates) was to conjure an image of public servants as Rat Pack rich, lounging around in crushed velvet robes, cocktail in hand, playing frivolous games of backgammon between bouts of light office work.
I’ve got a better idea. How about we stop stirring up envy among the general populace about certain of their servants who are making a wage that would be considered excessive in 1996, and instead stir up empathy by creating a list of the lowest paid public servants currently toiling away for some paltry wage. You could call it the Shoeshine List. As for the so-called Sunshine List? Shove it, preferably where the sun don’t shine.
D’Arcy Closs lives in Greater Sudbury. A rotating stable of community members share their thoughts on anything and everything, the only criteria being that it be thought-provoking. Got something on your mind to share with readers in Greater Sudbury? Climb aboard our Soapbox and have your say. Send material or pitches to [email protected].
