Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
By the numbers: COVID-19 cases update for Sudbury, Ontario and Canada:
It has been three days since Ontario Premier Doug Ford enacted a provincewide state of emergency in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. Here in Sudbury, there are still just two confirmed cases of COVID-19. The first positive test was announced on March 10 in a man in his 50s. Public Health has said it is most likely the man became infected at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) conference in Toronto the first week of March. The second case, a woman in her 60s, was announced on March 15. Public Health said the woman had close contact with the original case. As of March 19 at 5 p.m., the city's public health unit said it was aware of 297 tests for the virus having been conducted. That's 47 more tests than were reported on March 18. As of 1:45 p.m. on March 20, Ontario has 308 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, with the province's second death related to COVID-19 being confirmed on March 19. Full story here.
Ontario rolls out online learning plan while schools are closed due to COVID-19:
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is pointing parents and students toward online learning resources while schools are closed due to COVID-19. Ford says the "learn at home" online portal doesn't replace school, but is meant to address parents' concerns that kids will fall behind during this period. The resources offer interactive activities for elementary students and a focus on STEM courses for high school students. Many of the online activities are from TVO, the province's public broadcaster. Its television schedule is also being changed to add more educational programming for kids during the day. Education Minister Stephen Lecce has ordered the school closure for two weeks following March break.
Tired of cooking? These Sudbury restaurants are open and want to help you stuff your face:
You're stuck at home. The grocery stores are limited in what they can supply. You've been home all day but don't want to cook. Sudbury.com invites local restaurants who are still serving food to let us know — we've created a running list of eateries for hungry readers to contact. If you are a restaurant owner or know of a restaurant that is open, let us know by sending an email to [email protected]. We'll share and update the list as needed to help these restaurants spread the word (and to give readers a line on tasty food). Many restaurants are operating under reduced hours during this time. As well, you can also check Skip The Dishes, DoorDash or UberEats, or another local delivery option, to have the food delivered. Check out the list here.
$69 million: That's the payroll total for the 527 municipal employees on the Sunshine List:
Greater Sudbury CAO and the city's police chief top the 2019 Sunshine List of local public sector workers making more than $100,000 a year. CAO Ed Archer was paid $271,221 in 2019, while Greater Sudbury Police Chief Paul Pedersen was paid $252,887. Rounding out the top five in Greater Sudbury, the third highest paid staffer was Luc Soenens, a fire services technician with Greater Sudbury Fire Services, who was paid $242,585; fourth highest Tony Cecutti, the city's GM of growth and infrastructure, who was paid $223,111; and Kevin Fowke, the GM of corporate services, who was paid $221,835. In total, the City of Greater Sudbury had 527 people on the Sunshine List this year. Of those, 150 are direct city staff, while 375 work in emergency services fields: police, fire and paramedics. Mayor Brian Bigger was paid $170,619, good enough for No. 19 on the list of 527.
Police Chief Paul Pedersen tops Sunshine List for emergency services in Greater Sudbury:
Six of the 10 highest paid public sector employees at the City of Greater Sudbury are employees with Greater Sudbury Police Service. There are 375 emergency services employees out of 527 total employees under the Municipalities and Services sector on the Sunshine List in Greater Sudbury. The city's top cop is the highest paid public sector employee in emergency services in Greater Sudbury. Police Chief Paul Pedersen was paid $252,887 in 2019. First services technician Luc Soenens was next on the Sunshine List for emergency services in Greater Sudbury. He was paid $242,585 in 2019. Greater Sudbury Police Service CAO Sharon Baiden and Deputy Chief Al Lekun were both paid $215,188 in 2019, making them the third highest paid public sector employee in emergency services. Greater Sudbury Police Deputy Chief Sheilah Weber was paid $198,482 in 2019, while Insp. Marc Brunette was paid $197,001.
Nearly 350 Sudbury health care employees landed on the 2019 Sunshine List:
Health Sciences North had 340 employees that made more than $100,000 in 2019, according to the Sunshine List that was released on March 20. The annual list tracks the salaries of public sector employees, and Sudbury health care workers had 349 entries on the 2019 list, with the majority working at Health Sciences North and nine Public Health Sudbury and Districts employees. Health Sciences North president and CEO Dominic Giroux topped the list of highest earners in the health care sector and was paid $368,700 in 2019. Public Health Sudbury and Districts' two top earners were medical officer of health Penny Sutcliffe and assistant medical officer of health Ariella Zbad. Sutcliffe was paid $342,371 in 2019, while Zbar was paid $239,116.
Sunshine List: NOSM's Dr. Roger Strasser leads ed. sector 2019 Sunshine List:
Although he stepped down as head of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine last summer, Dr. Roger Strasser still earned the same salary he did in 2018, $358,585. That's according to the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act. Nicknamed the “Sunshine List,” the document lists all public sector workers who were paid $100,000 or more in a given year. Strasser's current title with NOSM is founding dean emeritus. He told us in a 2018 interview he would remain a faculty member once he stepped down. NOSM is now led by Dr. Sarita Verma, who started her new job as dean, president and CEO of the medical school July 1. She earned $179,292 in 2019. The medical school's vice-dean, academic, Dr. Catherine Cervin, earned $268,504 in 2019. That's up more than $20,000 from her 2018 salary. Laurentian University interim president Pierre Zundel was the university's top earner in 2019, with a $286,815 salary.