CALGARY, AB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation released new Alberta government numbers obtained through freedom-of-information requests that show Alberta government employees are paid more than those in similar provinces.

Of the 21 occupations, 19 are paid more by the Alberta government than the average of British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. When including health-care employees, 43 of 47 Alberta government positions are paid more than the average of comparable provinces.

“The Alberta government needs to stop overcharging taxpayers by $10 billion every year and to do that it needs to scale back its inflated salaries and benefits,” said Franco Terrazzano, Alberta Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “Alberta taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to pay thousands of dollars more every year for positions such as government policy analysts or administrative coordinators.”

Highlights from the data obtained from Alberta government include:

• 90 per cent of the Alberta government occupations are paid more than the Ontario-West average (based on maximum compensation rates).
   
• Ten of 21 Alberta government occupations earn more than $10,000 above the Ontario-West average every year (based on maximum compensation rates). Two occupations – policy analyst and wildlife biologist – earn more than $20,000 above the Ontario-West average. Alberta government occupational health and safety officers earn more than $30,000 more than the Ontario-West average every year.
   
• When including health-care employees, 43 of 47 Alberta government positions are paid more than the Ontario-West average and 53 per cent earn more than $10,000 more than those in other provinces.

Since 2014, the Alberta government’s compensation costs have increased by nearly $3 billion, or 12 per cent, and more than 10,000 Alberta government employees have been added. Total workers’ pay, including the private sector, has declined since 2014 highs.

“Taxpayers can’t afford to keep paying for inflated Alberta government salaries and benefits,” said Terrazzano. “Alberta taxpayers are being overcharged by $10 billion and we need to fix that.”

You can find the provincial comparisons here.