NDP wants to cap public CEO salaries

Ontario New Democrats have introduced a bill that they say will cap the salaries of the highest paid executives in the public sector.

NDP leader Andrea Horwath is sponsoring the private members bill aimed at limiting how much CEOs of hospitals, Crown corporations and universities can be paid annually.

Horwath says she wants the cap to be "twice the amount of the premier of the province, the person who runs the entire enchilada if you will."

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is paid $209,000.

The so-called sunshine list shows that 113 public sector managers earn more than double what McGuinty does.

Horwath says the cap would save around $40 million. "And $40 million is not peanuts when you look at what kind of front line care it can provide," she said.

Horwath said the money saved could be immediately spent on caring for the elderly in their homes and in long-term care facilities.

"I would rather have 1,000 more of these [caregivers] or 2,000 more ... working with that $40 million, or a couple thousand more nurses, than to continue to pad the pockets of the top executives," said Horwath.

The chances of the bill being passed are slim.

Private members bills rarely become law.