Powerex managing director T.M. Bechard was B.C.'s most highly paid public sector executive according to disclosure reports the provincial government released Tuesday.
Bechard pulled down $1.01 million in 2010-11, which included a $540,000 annual bonus, for overseeing Powerex, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BC Hydro responsible for marketing wholesale energy products and services.
It's the fourth year the provincial government has issued the reports for Crown corporations, post-secondary institutions and health authorities.
The bodies are required to provide the compensation for chief executive officers and the next four highest-ranking/paid executives, where these positions hold an annual base salary of $125,000 or more.
Rounding out the three highest paid are members from former premier Gordon Campbell's senior staff, both of whom were let go after Campbell stepped down.
Allan Seckel, Campbell's former deputy minister and former head of the public service. Seckel took home $923,907, including an almost $550,000 severance package.
Next was Martyn Brown, Campbell's longtime chief of staff, who took home $653,175.92 last year, including $416,191 in severance.
Brown was shuffled into another job before Campbell left, but was let go once Premier Christy Clark took office.
Others on the list of top paid public sector executives include: University of B.C. president Stephen Toope, who made $579,332; Pavco CEO Warren Buckley, who made $563,707; and Insurance Corp. of British Columbia CEA Jon Schubert, who took home $522,178.
Public school districts have a fiscal year that ends on June 30 and will disclose executive compensation later in the year.
All the reports can be found on the Public Sector Employers' Council Secretariat webpage: www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/psec/disclosure/disclosure10-11.htm.
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Here's a look at the figures for Northern Health, University of Northern British Columbia and College of New Caledonia:
Northern Health: Chief executive officer and president Catherine Ulrich took home $310,000 in base salary plus $31,147 in pension and $20,803 in other compensation for a total of $361,950. That's up from $344,392 in 2009-10 and $302,904 in 2007-08.
Vice president of medicine Dr. David Butcher was paid $272,487 in base salary, $21,974 in pension and $17,475 in other compensation for $311,936 in total. That's down from $313,295 in 2009-10 but up from $301,263 in 2008-09.
Chief financial officer and vice president of corporate services Shawn Terlson was paid $206,700 in base salary, $16,669 in pension and $32,272 in other compensation for $255,641 in total. That's up from $169,579 in 2009-10, when Terlson took over partway through the year.
Northern Cancer Program regional director Dr. Ronald Chapman was paid $213,210 in salary, $17,194 in pension and $20,011 in other compensation for $250,415 in total. That's up from $245,002 in 2009-10 and $235,477 in 2008-09.
University of Northern British Columbia: President and chancellor George Iwama was paid $245,942 in salary, $25,548 in pension and $47,626 in other compensation for a total of $320,116. That's up from $277,356 in 2009-10, when he took over on July 1, 2009.
Vice president of administration and finance Eileen Bray was paid $176,505 in salary, $17,097 in pension and $12,354 in other compensation for $205,956 in total. That's up from $198,602 in 209-10 and $187,205 in 2008-09.
Provost Mark Dale was paid $138,574 in salary - calculated on an academic position - $18,324 in pension and $68,489 in other compensation - including a stipend for the provost position - for $225,384 in total. That's up from $222,132 in 2009-10 and $162,243 in 2008-09.
Vice provost for medicine Dr. David Snadden was paid $189,067 in base salary calculated on an academic position, $26,835 in pension and $132,792 in other compensation, including a stipend, for $348,696 in total. That's up from $344,075 in 2009-10 and $316,909 in 2008-09.
Vice president for external relations Rob Van Adrichem was paid $137,404 in salary, $13,249 in pension and $12,701 in other compensation for $163,354 in total. It's the first time Van Adrichem has been on the list.
College of New Caledonia: President and chief executive officer John Bowman was paid $163,360 in base salary, $15,414 in pension and $17,742 in other compensation for $196,516 in total. That's down from $196,273 in 2009-10 and up from $189,638 in 2008-09.
