TORONTO, ON – The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has written to the ministers of health and of community and social services calling for an audit of executive compensation at Canadian Hearing Services (CHS) after learning of sharp increases at a time when front-line workers are living under provincial wage restraint legislation.
In the most recent reporting period, the CEO of Canadian Hearing Services, Julia Dumanian, saw a 13.3% increase in compensation. This brings her total increase since 2015 to a jaw-dropping 155%. Other senior management, according to the province’s Sunshine List, saw increases averaging 7.8%.
“The province is forcing front line workers to live with 1% a year when inflation is above 7%. That represents a huge cut in real income for people at the lower end of the scale. Meanwhile this management group has quietly been giving itself massive raises, despite Bill 124. That is an unjust law, but if you want to really see the face of inequality under Bill 124, here it is,” said CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn.
CHS, which provides services to the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf-Blind communities, received just over $23 million from the province in 2020/21, mostly from the ministries of health and of community and social services.
CUPE has requested that the ministers exercise their authority under the Transfer Payment Accountability Directive to order an audit of the agency.
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For more information, contact:
Craig Saunders, CUPE Communications, 416-576-7316, [email protected]
pc/cope491
