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The University of Saskatchewan followed through on a year-old commitment to improve transparency by publishing an online database of its highest-paid employees’ salaries, bonuses and other pay.

The database includes 955 university employees, each of whom earns more than $125,000 per year. Until last month, that information could only be obtained by visiting the university library and consulting a printed list.

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Richard Leblanc, an associate professor and governance expert at York University in Toronto, said the printed “salary book” was anomalous, and applauded the university for taking “a step in the right direction.”

“The rationale for salary disclosure is to promote accountability … And there’s a special burden that is put on hospitals and universities and colleges because of the expenditure of public money,” Leblanc said.

“By disclosure, you can identify governance shortcomings,” Leblanc added, noting that while there is no suggestion of wrongdoing, readily-accessible public disclosure also serves to discourage malfeasance.