ONTARIO SUNSHINE LIST SHOWS 115 STAFF AT MUSKOKA’S TOWN AND TOWNSHIP OFFICES PAID MORE THAN $100,000 EACH LAST YEAR —MANY WELL OVER

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

MUSKOKA — A sunny day Friday brought out the province’s so-called Sunshine List of employees topping the 100 grand pay scale in 2025.

Among Muskoka’s town and township municipalities 115 who are on their payrolls are were paid six figures last year.

According to provincial figures released today, they show Huntsville with the most local government high earners at 28, Muskoka Lakes 23, Bracebridge 21, Gravenhurst 19, Georgian Bay 15 and Lake of Bays 9.

At the top of the lower tier municipalities the CAOs and CEOs who manage day-to-day operations were paid:

• Muskoka Lakes Twp., CAO, David Pink         $210,000
• Gravenhurst, Scott Lucas,                                 $200,000
• Georgian Bay, CAO, Greg Mariotti                  $194,500
• Huntsville, Denise Corry,                                  $193,000
• Lake of Bays CAO, Geoff Carleton                  $150,000
• Lake of Bays CEO, Cathy Fairbairn                 $116,000
• Bracebridge CAO, Crystal Bergstrome           $148,000

District of Muskoka Chair Jeff Lehman was paid last year $108,000 and Muskoka district solicitor Jamie Clow $213,000.

We’re still deciphering those full Muskoka numbers for the second level government.

Among the more the 115 lower tier list, several made just over the $100,000 threshold.

But dozens more were in that mid-range from $120,000 to $174,000.

Town councillors across Muskoka are paid about $28,000 on average (with many going up next term, some more than 10 per cent) and can add the same amount if they sit on district council.

Mayors make about $15,000 to $20,000 on top of that.

And district councillors recently gave themselves a 48% pay increase over four years. According to the staff report, the increases will see their pay going up from $28,330 to $41,930.

Lehman’s pay packet will increase from $107,930 to $133,155 in 2030.

The deputy chair will receive a 42.4 per cent hike from $36,362 to $51,782 on top of their town council pay.

See the province’s full public access list by viewing the Ontario government link at:

https://www.ontario.ca/public-sector-salary-disclosure/2025/all-sectors-and-seconded-employees/

Median Muskoka income $40,800

• According to the District of Muskoka, as of late 2025 the living wage in Muskoka was $22.20. And based on 2021 Census data, the median total income for individuals in Muskoka was $40,800.
• The district and AI say employment income in the Muskoka is significantly lower than the provincial median, with nearly half (48%) of residents earning under $30,000.
• And the median employment income is 15.8% to 21% lower than the Ontario provincial median.
• Also 51% of the workforce is employed on a part-year or part-time basis due to seasonal tourism and construction.
• Finally, according to the Simcoe Muskoka Health unit, in 2025 a family of four with two adults and two children, ages 8 and 14, would need to spend $1,282.89 per month to afford the 61 staple foods, while a single-person household would require $445.92.

  

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