Sunshine List will expose six-figure salaries of Alberta government employees

[Wormius]

Given the number of people on that list, is there anyone working for the government that's not making over $100k?

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Its too early to tell if this is a good idea or not. If this information helps the Government evolve to be more effective then awesome...

If its just used by citizens to complain about Government salaries it will be counterproductive...especially if it drives talented people away from Government

IMHO we need more talented risk-tolerant visionary people in the civic service and, if they work their asses off, they should make a good living and that salary should be viewed as a worthwhile investment for Alberta taxpayers.

If Alberta taxpayers want to keep an eye on Government bloat that is fine...cut the fat...just don't cut the muscle too.

[Barnet Flame]

What a gross and utterly pointless invasion of privacy.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by Fozzie_DeBear

Its too early to tell if this is a good idea or not. If this information helps the Government evolve to be more effective then awesome...

If its just used by citizens to complain about Government salaries it will be counterproductive...especially if it drives talented people away from Government

IMHO we need more talented risk-tolerant visionary people in the civic service and, if they work their asses off, they should make a good living and that salary should be viewed as a worthwhile investment for Alberta taxpayers.

If Alberta taxpayers want to keep an eye on Government bloat that is fine...cut the fat...just don't cut the muscle too.

I'm curious, how possibly could a list of people's names and wages give joe public any indication of bloat or effectiveness? Not understanding the operations of the business in depth, I don't how you could know if the org structure has too many of position x other than just spitballing.

The limited usefulness it has is probably to compare salaries to similar jobs in the private sector... There's no need to publish people's names for that. And there most of the management/professional public sector employees in western canada make significantly less anyway. Maybe they could find a few to cry about.

I think it's just part of the attitude that, I pay their salaries so I should know, which is just bull ####. These people have a right to some basic privacy. We pay the salaries of everybody at the bank we choose, the insurance company we use etc too.

I totally agree with the point you make about attracting talent to the public sector, already a losing battle. Getting treated like pond scum by the conservative zealots, lower wages and the whole organizations getting tossed around every time there is a new government/minister. The only real decent card they have to play to attract talented people is an ok benefits package, which I think is the next big target of cons everywhere.

[Flamenspiel]

Originally Posted by Matty81

I agree with everybody saying this is a major violation of people's privacy.

In bc it is even worse, 75k and up.

Just a joke that your neighbor can go online and see your wages, or worse yet any scam artist or thief.

No, in fact it is not a violation of the privacy act as these disclosures apply to people on the public payroll, they are public servants. Its become a standard part of government disclosure processes and already is in use in BC and Ontario, next step is federal.

The only exceptions are public prosecutors and anyone else who could be imperiled by the release of such data.

This is no way impacts jobs in the private sector, that information is covered by the considered SPI and cannot be disclosed under any circumstances.

Here is a copy of the PIPA:
http://servicealberta.ca/pipa/

[Barnet Flame]

Please, explain the point of disclosing the salary of all these individuals.

What is achieved?

[Wormius]

So what is the value of having names attached?

[CaptainYooh]

Redford: LOL: I can't believe I had you at these elections, Gary!
Mar: Yeah, you did, what a shock. Want me hanging in there in caucus?
Redford: No, it would be better if you leave and not show up too often.
Mar: How'bout a job in Asia living in luxury and doing nothing?
Redford: Sure. Is $300K/year OK?
Mar: Done deal. Consider me gone. (quietly, I think I actually won here after all :LOL

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by Flamenspiel

No, in fact it is not a violation of the privacy act as these disclosures apply to people on the public payroll, they are public servants. Its become a standard part of government disclosure processes and already is in use in BC and Ontario, next step is federal.

The only exceptions are public prosecutors and anyone else who could be imperiled by the release of such data.

This is no way impacts jobs in the private sector, that information is covered by the considered SPI and cannot be disclosed under any circumstances.

Here is a copy of the PIPA:
http://servicealberta.ca/pipa/

So your argument is, that it is not a violation of their privacy... Because the government made it a law? That's quite the leap of logic there.

So to echo everybody else, what purpose does it serve? Because they are public servants every criminal and busy body they interact with knows their earnings - to what end?