https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-power-executive-salaries-2022-1.7070496 

 

N.B. Power executives dominate list of 2022's highest-paid government employees

Fired CEO at utility still topped list for last year

Sam Farley · CBC News · Posted: Dec 28, 2023 4:41 PM AST 

 

 

The majority of the top 50 highest-paid government employees for 2022 were from N.B. Power, including Keith Cronkhite, the CEO fired halfway through the year. (Michael Heenan/CBC)

Employees at N.B. Power took six of the top 10 spots among the highest-paid civil servants in 2022, according to a recently released list from the Government of New Brunswick.

Every December, the government releases a list of all employees making over $80,000 in the previous year. There were 18,926 government employees who made this year's list looking back on 2022.

The salaries are published online but only include a salary range for each person instead of an exact number.

The top earner was Keith Cronkhite, the CEO of N.B. Power who was fired in July 2022. He was paid between $600,000 and $624,999.

Cronkhite's 2022 salary was larger than his past salaries, likely due to a severance payout. His salary in 2021 was between $475,000 and $499,999.

The company's replacement CEO, Lori Clark, who stepped in as acting president in July 2022 and was appointed CEO in March 2023, also placed high on the list — somewhere between $350,000 and $374,999.

But Clark is only the fourth-highest earner for N.B. Power. The second-highest earner for the whole province is N.B. Power employee Gerald Fairweather at $450,000 to $474,999.

Former N.B. Power CEO Keith Cronkhite was fired in July 2022, but was still New Brunswick's highest-paid government official that year. (Roger Cosman/CBC News)

Out of the top 50 public sector earners, 29 are N.B. Power employees. This comes after the utility has just asked for a 9.8 per cent rate hike for customers in both 2024 and 2025, citing its massive debt and the need to "make modest improvements in its financial health."

A spokesperson for N.B. Power did not respond to an interview request Thursday to explain why the Crown corporation's executives are the highest paid and what Fairweather's position is with N.B Power.

Public Health employees also ranked high on the list. The number three earner in the New Brunswick public sector is Dragana Kelly with Horizon Health Network, earning between $375,000 and $399,000. The Nurse's Association of New Brunswick lists her as a registered nurse since 2017 in the Veterans Health Unit in Fredericton.

• N.B. Power CEO fired as utility embarks on 'transformational change'

• Dr. Jennifer Russell resigns from top Public Health post

The Department of Finance and Treasury Board, which is responsible for the list, did not respond to a request on Thursday for information about who Kelly is or why she is paid so much.

Kris McDavid, a Horizon spokesperson, directed the question to the Finance and Treasury Board because that department created the list. He said it might be an error.

But Bruce Macfarlane, senior director of media relations for the province, directed the question back to Horizon because it provides salary information to the Finance and Treasury Board in order for the list to be made.

The next-highest-paid person at Horizon is Susan Ellen Brien, who is listed on LinkedIn as a vice-president medical, academic, and research affairs.

France Desrosiers, CEO of Vitalité Health Network, earned $350,000 to $374,999. Natalie Banville, senior vice-president of client programs and medical affairs, was Vitalité's second-highest earner at $325,000 to $349,999.

Margaret Melanson, CEO of Horizon Health Network, earned between $275,000 and $299,999.

Jennifer Russell, the chief medical officer of health who resigned in October 2023, made between $325,000 and $349,000.

Dr. Jennifer Russell, former chief medical officer of health, resigned in October 2023. (Ed Hunter/CBC)

Heads of other Crown corporations do not place as high as N.B. Power's top paid officials. 

The CEO of N.B. Liquor, Lori Stickles, earned between $300,000 and $324,999. The highest earner for Cannabis N.B. was vice-president Lara Wood at $175,00-$199,999.

Alan Roy, CEO of Service New Brunswick, made between $225,000 and $249,000.

François Beaulieu, chair of the N.B. Energy and Utilities board, made between $225,000 and $249,000. He died in May of 2023.

Pierre Zundel, president of Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick, made between $225,000 and $249,999. Mary Butler, president of New Brunswick Community College, made between $200,000 and $224,999.

Sadie Perron, CEO of Opportunities N.B., made between $200,000 and $224,999.

The five top-paid judges made between $275,000 and $299,999.

Premier Blaine Higgs earned a minister's salary of $75,855 and an additional $85,000 as premier, and got $36,855 for "travel and other expenses," and $9,491 for a car allowance, for a total of $207,201.

Premier Blaine Higgs earned a total salary of just over $200,000 for 2022. (Ed Hunter/CBC)

His former chief of staff, Louis Léger, earned between $225,000 and $249,000.

The highest-paid deputy minister was Cheryl Hansen of the Finance Department and Treasury Board, at $275,000 to $299,999.

The next highest was deputy minister Eric Beaulieu of the Health Department, at $225,000 to $249,999. All other deputy ministers were paid between $175,000 and $225,000.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sam Farley

Journalist

Sam Farley is a Fredericton-based reporter at CBC New Brunswick. Originally from Boston, he is a journalism graduate of the University of King's College in Halifax. He can be reached at sam.farley@cbc.ca

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices

 

 

137 Comments  

David Amos

Content Deactivated 

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose N'esy Pas?

NB Power CEO's salary tops provincial government list

Province releases annual listing of government salaries

CBC News · Posted: Dec 24, 2018 4:46 PM AST

 

 

David Amos 

Gerald Fairweather has worked in roles in healthcare IT and digital transformation for over 20 years. He worked as chief information officer (CIO) for the Province of New Brunswick and was responsible for the province’s information and communications technology, digital transformation, cybersecurity, and privacy and information management strategies. 

 

 

 

David Amos 

I wonder how much Higgy's former Chief of Staff is being paid by a credit union overseen by a former liberal premier 

 

 

 

 

Don Corey 

So what's the big deal? There's nothing "new" here.....we see pretty much the same list every year, with NB Power headlining the article and then the rest of the crowd.

Hopefully the directors of Horizon and Vitalite will earn their big bucks and we'll see more significant and positive improvements in our healthcare system. Given the history of the public service and NB Power, not much else will change one way or another.

 

Denis Van Humbeck 

Reply to Don Corey 

Its a big deal and its very wrong. 

 

 

Don Corey  

Reply to Denis Van Humbeck

And why is it such a big deal to you? Is there anything here that comes as a surprise to you? If there is, then you don't live in NB. 

 

 

David Amos

Reply to Don Corey

Its a big deal to me that France Desrosiers, CEO of Vitalité Health Network still owes me about 5 grand

 

 

Don Corey  

Reply to David Amos

Yeah, that makes it a big deal for you David. Totally agree. Hope they do the right thing and pay up. 

 

 

MR Cain  

Electricians, linesmen, & engineers would all be earning over $80k, as well as those operating Lepreau. 

 

 

Murray Brown 

Reply to MR Cain  

But they actually work... What do the executives who oversee them actually 'do'?  

 

 

MR Cain 

Reply to Murray Brown 

Managers predominately, which also includes electricians, engineers, linesmen, etc. 

 

 

MR Cain  

Reply to MR Cain 

Actually

 

 

Rosco holt 

Reply to MR Cain  

You do know electricians, engineers and linemen, etc. aren't paid 80k but half of that.

 

 

Rosco holt 

Reply to MR Cain  

You do know electricians, engineers and linemen, etc. aren't paid 80k but half of that. 

 

 

Deborah Reddon

Reply to MR Cain

I wouldn't be surprised at that. It's difficult for other Provinces to lend a hand when NB has outages because the equipment and infrastructure is so old they aren't familiar with it and can't help. 

 

 

MR Cain 

Reply to Rosco holt  

Apprentices, no, licensed journeyman and supervisors, are paid 80 plus. Half that would be below median. 

 

 

MR Cain 

Reply to Rosco holt  

The median annual Electrician II salary in Fredericton, NB is C$78,749, as of November 29, 2023, with a range usually between C$69,861-C$88,156 not including bonus and benefit information and other factors that impact base pay. 

 

 

Chris Roland

Reply to MR Cain  

NB Power and its highly overpaid suits are nothing more than legalized criminals

 

 

MR Cain 

Reply to Chris Roland 

Your statement is slanderous. 

 

 

David Amos

Reply to MR Cain

Not if it is true and this statement smell very fishy

"A spokesperson for N.B. Power did not respond to an interview request Thursday to explain why the Crown corporation's executives are the highest paid and what Fairweather's position is with N.B Power."

 

Rosco holt 

Reply to MR Cain  

My old man was a lineman for NBPower, he pulled approx. 40K. When he went to private sector he made 80-90K easily. 

 

 

MR Cain 

Reply to Rosco holt

Good for him. If he had stayed, he would have benefited with yearly raises and career advancement.

 

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/new-brunswick-government-salaries-blue-book-1.4958589
  

NB Power CEO's salary tops provincial government list

Province releases annual listing of government salaries

CBC News · Posted: Dec 24, 2018 4:46 PM AT

NB Power CEO Gaëtan Thomas remained the highest paid provincial employee in the last fiscal year. (CBC)

More than 2,200 provincial employees received salaries of $100,000 or more in the last fiscal year, according to the New Brunswick 2017-18 blue book.

The provincial government released the annual listing of government salaries on Wednesday as well as retirement and severance packages, paid out for the year ending March 31, 2018.

Once again, top public-sector earners fell under the umbrellas of NB Power and the departments of justice and health.

NB Power CEO Gaëtan Thomas remained the highest-paid public servant in the province with a salary range of $550,000 to $574,999. The unaudited salary list provides pay ranges instead of the exact figure.

The province's utility employed more than 1,140 workers receiving at least $100,000 — that includes eight employees that make at least $250,000.

• Facing a divided province, a non-profit strives for 'social cohesion' in New Brunswick

• Robert Gauvin questions future with PCs, 'came close' to quitting

Besides the utility, New Brunswick's two health networks and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development employed the highest numbers of $100,000-and-up earners.

Horizon Health Network and Vitalité Health Network employed more than 190 and 130 people, respectively, in that income bracket, and the top administrators were among the highest-paid provincial employees.

Dr. Édouard Hendriks, Horizon's vice-president of medical, academic and research affairs, Dr. France Desrosiers, Vitalité's vice-president of medical, services, training and research, and Vitalité CEO Gilles Lanteigne made between $275,000 and $299,999.

Horizon CEO Karen McGrath was among the top earning public-sector employees in New Brunswick for the year ending March 31, 2018. (CBC)

Horizon CEO Karen McGrath was one bracket lower, earning between $250,000 and $274,999.

The Education Department had more than 180 employees who made at least $100,000, the vast majority in the $100,000 to $124,999 range. Only deputy ministers John McLaughlin and Gérald Richard earned more than $175,000 (but less than $200,000).

The health and justice departments combined to account for just 82 of the roughly 2,220 highest-earning public-sector workers in New Brunswick, but a handful of those individuals are near the top of the list.

Some provincial court judges and the province's top medical officers were also in the top 20 earners.
You can read the blue book document here.

Here are the highest salaries and the pay for some other notable officials:

$550,000-$574,999

• Gaëtan Thomas, CEO (NB Power)

$325,000-$349,999

• Pierre W. Arseneault, provincial court judge (Justice)

$300,000-$324,999

• Ronald J. LeBlanc, provincial court judge (Justice)
• Mark P. Cormier (NB Power)
• Michael Fairweather (NB Power)
• Ron R. Ferguson (NB Power)

$275,000-$299,999

• Jennifer Russell Wylie, chief medical officer of health (Health)
• Na-Koshie Lamptey, regional medical officer of health (Health)
• Yves Leger, regional medical officer of health (Health)
• Cristin Muecke, deputy chief medical officer of health (Health)
• Marian Paquet, regional medical officer of health (Health)
• Yvette, Finn, provincial court judge (Justice)
• Edouard Hendriks, vice-president of medical, academic and research affairs (Horizon)
• Brian Harriman, CEO (NB Liquor)
• Keith Cronkhite, senior vice-president business development and strategic planning (NB Power)
• Brian McCullum (NB Power)
• Darren Murphy, chief financial officer (NB Power)
• Mark Power, Point Lepreau station director (NB Power)
• France Desrosiers, CEO (Vitalité)
• Gilles Lanteigne, vice-president of medical, services, training and research (Vitalité)

$250,000-$274,999

• Isaac Sobol, regional medical officer of health (Health)
• Karen Ann McGrath, CEO (Horizon)
• Stephen Lund, CEO (Opportunities New Brunswick)
• Martin Robichaud, medical director (Vitalité)

$200,000-$224,999

• Jean Finn, deputy minister of energy and resource development (Energy)
• Jacques Pinet, New Brunswick Jobs Board CEO (general)

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices

 

42 Comments  

David Amos

Content Deactivated

N.B. Power executives dominate list of 2022's highest-paid government employees

Fired CEO at utility still topped list for last year

Sam Farley · CBC News · Posted: Dec 28, 2023 4:41 PM AST

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose N'esy Pas?

 

 

 

Marguerite Deschamps 

Joyeux Noël! - Ho! Ho! Ho! 

 

 

David Amos

Reply to Marguerite Deschamps 

Bah Humbug

 

https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2018/12/methinks-more-than-2200-provincial.html  

 

NB Power CEO's salary tops provincial government list

47 Comments  
Commenting is now closed for this story.

David R. Amos

Methinks more than 2,200 provincial employees should be Happy Happy Happy this Yuletide Season much to the chagrin of many a minimum wage taxpayer N'esy Pas?

David R. Amos

Methinks they forgot the Vestcor boss John Sinclair and his underlings N'esy Pas?

https://www.telegraphjournal.com/telegraph-journal/story/100655131/vestcor-new-brunswick-public-servants-john-sinclair-investments-pensions

N.B. pension investment bosses rake in huge bonuses

John Sinclair, the organization’s president and CEO, nearly quadrupled his base salary of $327,779 when bonuses kicked in, earning $1,264,690 in total compensation in 2017.

Jonathan Spinney, the chief investment officer, saw his base pay of $233,750 jump to $697,489 after bonuses were factored in.

James Scott, vice president, cashed in on an uptick from $225,000 to $601,962.

Another vice president, Mark Holleran, saw his pay bump up from $214,000 to $593,272 in total compensation.

And Jan Imeson, the chief financial officer, saw his pay jump from $220,000 to $511,175.

Vestcor’s CEO defended the big bonus pay, arguing the size of the funds under management - more than $16 billion - require expert handling.

Shawn McShane

@David R. Amos Forgot about that...

  








David R. Amos

Methinks folks should listen to was I have been suggesting to do for years in order to rid us of the provincial debt and honour our contract with our provincial employees with regards to their pensions.

I was first to speak in the Fundy area

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZqArRNshSM&t=2284s

2018 New Brunswick Provincial Election Saint John Region Candidate Messages

 
David R. Amos

Methinks all the well paid people under the purview of NB Power's CEO Gaëtan Thomas are not looking forward to arguing my friend Roger Richard and I again this year N'esy Pas?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/eub-hearing-nb-power-rate-design-smart-meters-1.4305685

EUB punts rate hearing as NB Power studies $122M smart meter plan

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/eub-hearings-nb-power-smart-meters-1.4529640

Opting out smart meter program could cost NB Power customers

 
Roy Kirk

Obviously the province would be much better run if we paid higher salaries to those at the top, eh? ;-(

David R. Amos

@Roy Kirk Methinks thou doth jest too much N'esy Pas?

 
Matthew Smith

I'm totally in favour of paying CEOs commensurate to performance, at a rate that's competitive....but NB Poorer?, NB Liquored and the actual manager of Point Lepreau? C'mon really? 3 massive failures in a row

David R. Amos

@Matthew Smith Go Figure

 
Cam Randal

The wages for these civil servants are way too high when you consider the dismal financial position of the province. There should be a reduction in pay and bonuses across all sectors of government. Moreover, the high salaries paid to the department of education employees has not contributed in a positive way to the performances of New Brunswick students who tend to be at the bottom when compared to other provinces. A hefty pay cut is in order.

Lorne Allen

@Cam Randal

The 10 provinces would be 10 of the most educationally advanced countries in the world if they were split up; not too bad to be at the bottom of that list.

David R. Amos

@Cam Randal Dream on

Jake Devries

@Cam Randal any wonder we are broke..Lie-beral mismanagement again...

 
Harold Benson

Well what better gesture than to pay the top dog at the commission a top notch salary for his excellent management skills.....and lets give him a bonus too.

David R. Amos

@Harold Benson I doubt your buddy Sam agrees with you

Eva McLaughlin

@Harold Benson do I detect a hint of sarcasm in this remark?

 
Harold Benson

Anyway , to all a merry xmas and a good sleep tonight, and when we wake up tomorrow, we'll continue the fight, for all that is right. ( maybe w.e'll elect some leaders who are looking out for all) Merry xmas to all.

David R. Amos

@Harold Benson Say Bon Soir to Sam for me will ya?

 
Lou Bell

Isn't 550,000 kinda high for floodin' half the province ??

David R. Amos

@Lou Bell Hush now you know he has the keys to a nuke

 
Miles Gahan

These wages are outrageous and disturbing, New Brunswickers are being way over charged for dismal performance. This would be a great place for Blaine Higgs to start his massive slashing!!

David R. Amos

@Miles Gahan Methinks Higgs and Gallant have too many political friends drawing these wages within such offices as NB Power. For the PCs to slash wages would be a huge scandal.. I suspect we may see a lot of golden handshakes and the positions never refilled N'esy Pas?

 
Matt Steele

It seems pretty obvious why N.B. is a failed province with a 14 BILLION PLUS DEBT . Extremely high salaries ; and very low job performance . It might be understandable why some in the Health field and Teachers in the Education sector receive high salaries as a lot of those positions require a lot of post secondary education which is very time consuming and expensive ; but when there are Security guards at N.B. Power making $100,000 per year with next to zero education , then there is a problem .

David R. Amos

@Matt Steele I repeat before the stock market takes another nosedive take the money from Vestcor and pay off our provincial debt in full. Then honour the contract with the pensioners through general funds. Methinks it truly is just that simple that is why nobody will argue me about it N'esy Pas?

Lou Bell

@David R. Amos Would you like them to take YOUR pension fund and pay off the debt? I have nothing in the government fund, having worked all my life in the private sector, yet know enough not to just TAKE from others pension for OUR benefit.

David R. Amos

@Lou Bell YES

David R. Amos 

@Lou Bell "yet know enough not to just TAKE from others pension for OUR benefit"

How much did their "Shared Risk" pension plan lose in the past year? Better yet how much did it lose yesterday or will it within the next few weeks?. I propose to stop the lawsuits secure their investments with our IOU and pay their pensions out of general funds. Everybody but the Banksters win.

Methinks the shortfall between what is going into their pension plans and what is being paid out is only about 70 million which is a whole lot cheaper for the rest of us than paying 700 million a year in interest on our debt to Banksters N'esy Pas?








 
Jim Cyr

If NB was a wealthy province, you could justify these kinds of salaries.
The public sector as a whole is generally overpaid.

David R. Amos

@Jim Cyr I Wholeheartedly Agree Sir

 
Paul Bolton

I can understand people in the medical fields being well paid, they save lives and we have to compete to get the best doctors, but when you are CEO of a company that has no competition (like NB Power or Liquor) then it hardly seems necessary. IMO

David R. Amos

@Paul Bolton Methinks the current CEO of NB Power was in charge of the refurbishment of Lepreau and we all now how that worked out N'esy Pas?

 
Alex Butt

This is the reason why New Brunswick is, and always will be a have not province! Expecting huge payments for little work! How anyone can justify this kind of salary for a company like nb power that has a rotten track record for power outages and charging ever excessive rates for it? If there was any form of competition it would fold faster than a toot in a windstorm!

David R. Amos

@Alex Butt Methinks everything is political and its always about the money This article in the Yuletide season is just rubbing salt in the wounds of upset taxpayers before the next provincial election which no doubt will be coming soon N'esy Pas?

Bernard McIntyre

No one should make more money than the Premier. Enough of that Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to all my fellow commenters.

David R. Amos

@Bernard McIntyre Bah Humbug

David R. Amos

@Bernard McIntyre FYI Mr Higgs et al know that I said Bah Humbug 3 years ago as well

https://archive.org/details/BahHumbug

 
John Montgomery

As a resident of New Brunswick, it is plainly clear that this man is not doing his job.

David R. Amos

@John Montgomery I agree

 
Lou Bell

Too many " unqualified political pals " from both parties !!!!

David R. Amos

@Lou Bell Methinks many folks would agree that NB Power is the ultimate example of local political patronage run amuck by both the Liberal and the PC parties N'esy Pas?

David R. Amos

@Lou Bell FYI Every time I see your name I think of Justice Richard Bell and wonder if you are related to him.

 
Shawn McShane

NB Power still have a nuclear boss that gets paid in US funds? It was revealed in 2017 that Brett Plummer was paid $500,000 US or $655,000 Cdn. Before that NB Power contracted out the position of nuclear vice-president to a subsidiary of Ontario Power Generation, for $97,490 per month, or nearly $1.2 million...all to improve Lepreau's disappointing post-refurbishment. Did the high wages improve the performance? Since refurbishment, the station has been out of service for repairs and maintenance at least 200 days more than expected...cbc

David R. Amos

@Shawn McShane Go figure why 4 of NB Power's directors are Yankees as well the fact that Mr Thomas is chairman of the Atlanta Centre Governing Board of the World Association of Nuclear Operators.

Methinks you should come to the EUB hearings to listen to me argue NB Power's lawyers and beancounters or you can always download the transcript in order to read what has already been said N'esy Pas?

Ray Bungay

To get the BEST, you must pay the BEST! Being in retail management for 20+ years I heard that often!But can anyone explain to me how that works for NB Power? You have the highest paid as head of the utility and it is it seems by the number of network failures, to be grossly over paid! Merry Christmas!!

David R. Amos

@Ray Bungay I repeat Bah Humbug

Methinks if any taxpayers barely getting by on minimum wages read this article I doubt that they are very Merry either N'esy Pas?

 
Fred Brewer

If NB Power were profitable and returning millions of dollars to the province on an annual basis, then I could understand these salaries. As it stands now, NB Power is almost $5 billion in debt and has no hope of paying it off. They go from one massive boondoggle to the next, yet they collect exorbitant salaries and bonuses. Mr. Higgs it is up to you to fire the top executives at NB Power and institute more reasonable salaries with bonuses based on performance.

 
Marguerite Deschamps

Joyeux Noël! - Ho! Ho! Ho!