Amit Chakma, Western University president, earned $924K last year

How is itthat Western University president and vice-chancellorAmitChakma collected almost double his $479,600 annual salary last year?

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Salary earnings of $924,000, plus $43,244 in taxable benefits, is what's recorded next to Chakma'sname in the salary disclosure included in this year's Ontario Sunshine list.

Reported annually, the list includes all public-sector workers whose salaries exceeded $100,000 in the previous year. Last year, more than 111,000 people in the public sector took home paycheques of $100,000 or more.

The 2014Sunshine List records Chakma's2013 salary at$479,600. So how did it jump to a whopping $924,000 in 2014?

The university based in London, Ont., issued a news release Friday explaining the salary jump this way:

"To ensure continuity of leadership at a critical time, Chakma received payment in lieu of a one-year administrative leave that was included in his first five-year contract, which concluded in June 2014. The board has reappointed Chakma to a second five-year term extending to June 30, 2019."

Chose to work through leave

Western's board of governors chair Chirag Shah told CBC News that instead of taking oneyear of paid administrative leave included in his contract,Chakma opted to stay and work through 2014 at what Shahsaid was a "critical time" for the university.

Doesn't that mean Chakma was essentially paid twice his salary for one year of work?

Shah told CBC News it doesn't. He says Chakma was permitted to take a year of salary for not working and instead chose to stay and work, meaning he was essentially entitled to twicehis annual salary in one calendar year.

Chakmajoined the university in 2009 and was reappointed to a second five-year contract in June of last year.

"Our hands were tied by the contract he signed in 2009," said Shah.

Shah said situations like Chakma's are notunusual in academia. He alsosaidChakmamet or exceeded key benchmarks for his job, such as undergraduate enrolment, fundraising and student grades.

In the release, Shah said Chakma"is recognized nationally and internationally as one of the most influential academic leaders in Canada, which is reflected in his salary.

"The continued momentum of Western's drive to become a world-class research university and to raise Canada'sprofile as a leader in international education has benefited greatly from his guidance since his arrival in 2009, and especially over the last year."

One of Canada's largest universities, Western has about 6,300 full-time staff and 32,000 undergraduate students.

"We are satisfied that the salaries of Western faculty and staff reflect fair compensation for each individual's scope of responsibility," said Shah.