Fire chief cost city more than $300,000 in 2017

Ryan Thorpe
08/17/2018 7:00 PM

Winnipeg taxpayers have been footing the bill for fire and paramedic Chief John Lane to hit the books for the past three years as he pursues a master’s degree.

The city confirmed on Friday it has paid $19,800 of Lane’s post-secondary education costs so far, “in fulfilment of a mutual commitment... in his employment contract.” That works out to $6,600 per year.

(factBox)When added to Lane’s salary, trip expenses and the fine levied after an arbitrator determined he breached respectful workplace policies, the chief cost taxpayers $308,094, plus pension payments, in 2017 — roughly $46,000 more than the top-earning civic employee.

The city declined to make Lane available for an interview. In a written statement, a spokeswoman said the city considers it important to “invest in developing our employees and highly skilled leaders.”