Salary increase classifications: Up to 70% increase for senior civil servants who have been promoted

Many senior civil servants are benefiting from generous salary increases of up to 16% this year. This increase reaches 70% for state employees who receive a promotion, such as the new president of the SAQ.

Jacques Farsi easily wins the top job holder award after benefiting from the biggest pay rise in 2023-24.

The former president and CEO of the Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC) saw his salary rise from $311,000 to $528,000 last year, not counting the bonuses he will receive in these new positions. This is much more than her predecessor, Catherine Dagenais, who earned $466,000 a year, before bonuses.

The pay of former Deputy Minister François Legault, Yves Ouellet, also increased by 28% after his appointment as CEO of the Financial Markets Authority last summer. Dominique Savoie, who now supports the Prime Minister, has also benefited from increased working conditions after she left Christian Dube's team on the Executive Council.

Secretary General and Clerk of the Executive Board Dominique Savoie.

Archive photo, Simon Clarke

The move from Eric Kier's ministry to health will also be lucrative for senior civil servant Kathleen Munger. As assistant deputy minister on Christian Dube's team, she now earns $228,000 annually, an approximately 22% increase in her compensation.

Dominique Valéry Malac was appointed senior head of the Quebec French language office at the end of February, and now earns $216,000 a year. This is approximately 16% more than her salary as assistant deputy minister at the French Language Ministry.

The former president of the CAQ is not to be outdone

Former MP and ex-president of the CAQ Stephane Le Bouinonc is not to be outdone. He was first appointed by François Legault's Executive Board, and was able to benefit from a raise of more than 12% this year. He is now deputy minister of cybersecurity and digital affairs, receiving approximately $254,000.

Photography by Marc-Andre Gagnon

But even without a promotion, many civil service leaders will see their pay rise significantly this year. Assistant Deputy Minister for State Model Affairs in the Ministry of Jean-François Roberge, Genevieve Lajoie – not to be confused with the author of these lines – received a raise of $30,000 in one year.

About a hundred of the state's top officials benefited from a 5% or more increase in their basic salaries in 2023-24, figures updated yesterday by the government showed.

Legault now earns $270,000

Let us remember that, in addition to senior government employees, representatives and ministers will benefit this year from an increase in their wages of no less than 30%, which is what they voted for last June.

So François Legault saw his salary increase from $208,000 to more than $270,000 to lead Quebec. The remuneration of its ministers now amounts to more than 230 thousand annually.

Last year, it was the Prime Minister's right-hand man who topped the list for the biggest pay rises. Martin Koskinen, the CAQ president's loyal companion, received a raise of $71,000 in one year, bringing him to a base salary of more than $300,000.