It certainly is a lot, although it's the sort of thing where, when you really think about it, you'd kinda hope it's something the government is willing to spend money on. You don't want all the best and brightest just going to private companies because they can earn 3x as much as the government is willing to pay. (Whether the current SPADs are the best and brightest, I don't know... If they are, it's certainly not reflected in the government's decision-making! But I think the point still stands that there needs to be a financial motivation for talented people to work in government rather than private businesses.)