Tuesday August 14, 2012
By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday August 14, 2012
eHealth CEO Greg Reed takes $81,250 bonus
The man brought in to lead eHealth Ontario following a scandal that rocked the Liberal government will get a bonus of about 25 per cent on top of his $329,000 salary this year, while staff at the agency have turned to the courts to get back the bonuses they were promised but denied.
EHealth president and CEO Greg Reed will be paid a bonus of $81,250 this year, agency spokesman Robert Mitchell confirmed Sunday.
The government wants all public sector workers, including doctors, nurses and teachers, to take a two-year wage freeze to help eliminate a $15 billion deficit, and told managers and executives at its agencies to lead by example.
The bonus was “part of a standard employment contract” negotiated between Reed and the eHealth board of directors, Mitchell said.
“Comparatively, his salary is significantly lower than peers at other agencies,” he said.
Reed was not available to comment Sunday, nor was the chair of the eHealth board, Raymond Hession.
The opposition parties called on Health Minister Deb Matthews to cancel Reed’s bonus as she did the bonuses for more than 600 eHealth staff.
“This latest eHealth fiasco is a slap in the face to Ontarians who are being asked to tighten their belts,” NDP health critic France Gelinas said in a release. (Source: Toronto Star)