Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Government of Alberta disclose the compensation of public sector employees?

The Public Sector Compensation Transparency Act came into effect in order to enhance accountability and transparency to taxpayers in the province. Extending the compensation disclosure to public sector employees who earn above a threshold builds on an already existing policy disclosing compensation for Members of the Legislative Assembly, deputy ministers and senior executives in Government. 

Implementing compensation and severance disclosure requirements aligns Alberta with similar practices in other Canadian jurisdictions, such as British Columbia, Ontario, Manitoba and Nova Scotia.

Who does the Public Sector Compensation Transparency Act apply to?

The Act applies to all public sector bodies, including agencies, boards, commissions and post-secondary institutions in the province.

When does NAIT disclose this information?

All public sector bodies, including NAIT, are required to disclose the compensation and severance paid to eligible employees and board members twice per year:

  • June 30 - compensation from January 1 to December 31 of the previous calendar year, and
  • December 31 - severance from January 1 to June 30 of the current calendar year.

Who is included in the disclosures?

The Act requires us to include 

  • employees whose earnings and/or severance payments exceed specified thresholds 
  • board members, regardless of their compensation 

The threshold amount for income earned in the 2019 calendar year was $132,924, and $135,317 for 2020. If an employee’s compensation, non-monetary benefits and, where applicable, severance exceeds this threshold amount, that person will be included on the disclosure list. 
 
The Act also requires all public sector bodies to include all board members, regardless of compensation, in the disclosure. Further, the employment contract of the president and CEO is required to be published.

What information is published through this disclosure?

The disclosure includes 

  • Employee name; 
  • Position or appointment last held during the reporting year; 
  • Compensation year; 
  • Amount of compensation provided to the employee or member during the reporting year (generally Box 14 on the T4 issued for that reporting year); 
  • Amount or value of all non-monetary benefits provided to or in respect of the employee or member. This includes 
    • Employer’s portion of Local Authority Pension Plan (LAPP) contribution 
    • Employer’s portion of Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Employment Insurance (EI) 
    • Employer’s portion of other benefits such as health and dental premiums. 
    • WCB coverage 
  • The amount of severance that has been paid or that the employee or member became entitled to. Severance can also include a retiring allowance, as defined by Canada Revenue Agency 

Please note that if a NAIT employee holds multiple positions, the compensation for all positions will be combined, and all positions will be listed. Disclosed information must remain public for 5 years.

Will information on contracts and severance agreements be part of the disclosure?

Post-secondary institutions are not required to disclose written employment and severance contracts, except for the employment contract of our president and CEO when they are included on the disclosure list.

Where will the information be disclosed?

The disclosure will appear on NAIT’s public website and a link will also be accessible through the Government of Alberta compensation disclosure site. 

How does NAIT account for apparent compensation discrepancies between employees?

There are several factors that can impact an individual’s compensation. Generally, the following factors may impact compensation amounts:  

  • additional NAIT work performed by employees (e.g. staff may take on additional contract instruction)  
  • recruiting into certain high demand, competitive professions means we rely on external market pay information and analysis 
  • pay-at-risk amounts paid to eligible employees can vary based on performance 
  • Note: Pay-at-risk was eliminated by April 2020, in accordance with the post-secondary compensation regulations.  
  • pension maximums have been reached for some staff based on years of service or age 
  • different severance provisions  
  • different benefit options selected (e.g. family plan vs. individual plan) 
  • how long a staff member has been employed at NAIT

Is releasing employee salary information allowed under the province's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act?

Yes. The Public Service Compensation Disclosure Policy is accompanied by a Treasury Board Directive. The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP) allows the disclosure of any personal information for the purpose of complying with a Treasury Board Directive.

Is there any way information can be exempted from being publicly released?

Employees who feel they have extenuating circumstances, where disclosure would put their safety at risk, may apply to the Minister of Justice and Solicitor General for a personal exemption. 

Full details on who can apply for an exemption and the application process can be found on the Government of Alberta’s Justice and Solicitor General website

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