Ontario Sunshine List 2026 — When It's Released & How to Search
The Ontario Sunshine List is the annual public disclosure of every provincial public sector employee earning $100,000 or more. Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 release: when it drops, how to search it, what the threshold means, and why it matters for Ontario business owners.
When Is the 2026 Sunshine List Released?
Expected Release: Late March to Early April 2026
The Ontario government typically publishes the Sunshine List in the last week of March or first week of April. The 2026 list covers salaries earned during the 2025 calendar year.
Once released, the list is available on the official Ontario salary disclosure page. Major media outlets (Toronto Star, CBC, Global News) usually publish their own searchable databases within hours.
Recent release dates:
- 2025 list (2024 data): March 28, 2025
- 2024 list (2023 data): March 22, 2024
- 2023 list (2022 data): March 24, 2023
How to Search the Sunshine List
Official Ontario Government Search
Visit ontario.ca/page/public-sector-salary-disclosure. You can search by name, employer, or sector. The government also provides downloadable datasets in CSV format for bulk analysis.
Media Searchable Databases
The Toronto Star, CBC, and other outlets create user-friendly search tools. These are often easier to use than the official site and allow sorting by salary, employer, or region. Search "[media outlet] sunshine list" after the release date.
Open Data Downloads
The full dataset is available as an open data download from the Ontario Data Catalogue. This is useful for researchers, journalists, or business owners who want to analyse salary trends in their sector or municipality.
What the Sunshine List Includes
What Is Disclosed
- Employee name (first and last)
- Position/title
- Employer (public sector organization)
- Sector (e.g., hospitals, municipalities, crown agencies)
- Salary paid (includes regular pay, overtime, retroactive pay, lump sums)
- Taxable benefits (car allowances, housing, club memberships)
What Is NOT Disclosed
- Employer pension contributions
- Health and dental benefits
- Non-taxable allowances
- Federal government employees
- Private sector salaries
- Employees earning under $100,000
Total compensation is often 20-30% higher than the salary figure shown on the list.
The $100,000 Threshold: Why It Matters
The Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act, 1996 set the threshold at $100,000. It has never been adjusted for inflation. If it had been indexed to CPI, the 2026 threshold would be approximately $175,000.
As a result, the number of people on the Sunshine List has grown dramatically:
| Year | Number of Employees |
|---|---|
| 1996 (first year) | ~4,500 |
| 2010 | ~67,000 |
| 2020 | ~205,000 |
| 2024 | ~280,000+ |
| 2026 (expected) | ~300,000+ |
Who Appears on the Sunshine List?
The Sunshine List covers employees of all Ontario public sector organizations, including:
Provincial Government
Ministries & agenciesMunicipalities
Cities, regions, townshipsHospitals
All public hospitalsSchool Boards
Teachers & administratorsUniversities & Colleges
Faculty & admin staffPolice & Fire
Officers & chiefsCrown Corporations
Hydro One, OPG, LCBOChildren's Aid
CAS organizationsPublic Health Units
Medical officers, staffWhy the Sunshine List Matters for Business Owners
Salary Benchmarking
If you compete with the public sector for talent, the Sunshine List shows you exactly what your competitors pay. Use it to benchmark salaries for skilled workers, managers, and specialized roles in your industry.
B2B Sales Intelligence
Know who makes decisions and what they earn. The list identifies department heads, directors, and managers at hospitals, municipalities, school boards, and other organizations that buy products and services from private businesses.
Understanding Government Spending
The Sunshine List is a window into how tax dollars are spent. As a taxpayer and business owner, understanding public sector compensation helps you evaluate the value of government services and make informed decisions about policy.
Looking for Business Funding?
While the Sunshine List covers public sector salaries, Ontario also offers billions in grants, loans, and tax credits for businesses. Our AI Grant Finder matches your business to 200+ programs in under 60 seconds.
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Official Resources
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Get a Grant Application Review — $99Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Ontario Sunshine List 2026 released?
The Ontario Sunshine List is released every year in late March or early April. The 2026 list (covering 2025 salaries) is expected between March 20 and April 5, 2026. The Ontario government publishes it on ontario.ca and makes it searchable. Media outlets typically publish searchable databases within hours of the official release.
What is the Ontario Sunshine List threshold?
The threshold is $100,000 in annual salary. Any employee of a public sector organization in Ontario who earned $100,000 or more in the previous calendar year must be disclosed. This threshold has not changed since the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act was introduced in 1996, despite inflation. If the threshold had been adjusted for inflation, it would be approximately $175,000 in 2026 dollars.
How do I search the Ontario Sunshine List?
You can search the official Sunshine List at ontario.ca/page/public-sector-salary-disclosure. The government provides a searchable database where you can look up individuals by name, employer, or sector. Media outlets like the Toronto Star and CBC also create their own searchable tools that are often easier to use and allow sorting and filtering.
Who appears on the Sunshine List?
The list includes employees of Ontario public sector organizations: provincial government ministries, Crown agencies, municipalities, school boards, hospitals, universities, colleges, police services, fire departments, Hydro One, OPG, LCBO, and other publicly funded agencies. It does not include federal employees, private sector workers, or politicians' constituency office staff.
Does the Sunshine List include benefits and pensions?
The Sunshine List reports salary paid and taxable benefits separately. Salary includes regular pay, overtime, retroactive pay, and lump-sum payments. Taxable benefits include items like car allowances, housing allowances, and club memberships. It does not include employer pension contributions, health benefits, or non-taxable allowances, so total compensation is higher than what appears on the list.