Steve Lesperance for CKL Councillor Ward 8

YOUR MONEY

The Sunshine List, explained

Ontario's public salary disclosure for the City of Kawartha Lakes: what it is, what the numbers show, and the fair questions taxpayers can ask.

PLAIN LANGUAGE

What is the Sunshine List?

VERIFIED FACT

$100,000 is the provincial public salary disclosure threshold

Every year, Ontario publishes the names, positions, and salaries of public sector employees paid $100,000 or more in the previous calendar year. Municipal employees, including City of Kawartha Lakes staff, appear when their pay meets the threshold.
Source: Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act, 1996 (Ontario)Year: 1996Accessed: 2026-08-25View source
VERIFIED FACT

Being on the list does not automatically mean someone is overpaid

The Sunshine List is a public record, not an accusation. Many listed roles involve demanding front-line and professional work. This page exists for transparency about the overall cost and structure of City government, not to attack employees.

THE DASHBOARD

Kawartha Lakes disclosure, by the numbers

Compiled from official Ontario disclosure records. Latest year: 2025.

Disclosed employees (2025)

235

Total disclosed salaries

$30.6M

$30,632,456

Average disclosed salary

$130,351

Paid $150,000 or more

39

Paid $200,000 or more

5

THE HONEST CONTEXT

Before drawing conclusions, read this

VERIFIED FACT

The $100,000 threshold has stayed the same since 1996

The disclosure threshold has never been adjusted for inflation. Normal wage growth moves more people over the line every year, in every municipality. That means rising Sunshine List counts alone do not prove waste or mismanagement.
Source: Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act, 1996 (Ontario)Year: 1996Accessed: 2026-08-25View source
STEVE'S POSITION

Taxpayers still have the right to ask whether the overall cost of government is growing faster than it should.

Steve's concern is not any individual employee. It is overall compensation growth, management costs, staffing trends, value for taxpayers, and whether City government is structured efficiently.

QUESTION I AM ASKING

Is the overall cost of City government growing faster than the population and the services residents receive?

QUESTION I AM ASKING

How much of the growth is front-line service delivery, and how much is management and administration?

STEVE'S POSITION

Transparency, not attacks.

This page will keep growing with sourced analysis of compensation trends, management costs, and structure. Everything is checked against official records before it is published as fact, and Steve's interpretations are always labelled as his position.

The CAO Review City Finances, Explained

CHECK IT YOURSELF

Sources and methodology

Every number above traces back to the official disclosure. Follow the links and verify.

PLAIN ANSWERS

Common questions

YOUR NEXT STEP

Keep going: taxes, spending, and value, all with sources.

Explore the Data

Or read the CAO Review