Close X
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
ADVT 
National

Bloc leader says he is shocked by millions in 'juicy' bonuses awarded to CBC execs

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 15 Aug, 2024 04:00 PM
  • Bloc leader says he is shocked by millions in 'juicy' bonuses awarded to CBC execs

The $18.4 million CBC/Radio-Canada awarded in bonuses to its employees this year is shocking, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet said.

He also said bonuses at the public broadcaster aren't justified because a government-owned corporation doesn't face competition like in the private sector. 

"The juicy bonuses given under the pretext that without them we aren't competitive in the market — well, we've been hearing that for decades .... Negotiate yourself a salary," Blanchet told reporters in the lobby of the House of Commons. 

Describing bonuses as icing on a cake, Blanchet suggested the corporation was using them as a "kind of backdoor salary" that hides how much people are really being paid because the bonuses are only revealed in the media "once a year."

"There can be a little bit of icing, but when the icing becomes part of the salary, I usually start to question things," Blanchet said, adding that the millions of dollars in bonuses "shocks" him.

The Canadian Press reported this week that the public broadcaster paid $18.4 million in bonuses to 1,194 employees this year after it eliminated hundreds of jobs. That included $3.3 million paid to 45 executives, which comes out to an average bonus of more than $73,000.

More than $10.4 million was paid out to 631 managers, and over $4.6 million was paid to 518 other employees. 

This year's amount is an increase from the $14.9 million paid out to 1,143 employees in the 2022-23 fiscal year. 

Opposition Conservatives want the head of the public broadcaster, Catherine Tait, to return to the parliamentary hot seat and provide answers. Earlier this year, members of the House heritage committee unanimously concluded in a report presented to the House of Commons that, given the budget cuts, it would be inappropriate for the CBC to award bonuses to its executives.

It is not clear whether Tait was among those who received performance pay this year. The CEO's performance pay is determined based on a recommendation from the CBC/Radio-Canada board of directors, with approval from the federal government. 

The CBC and the federal government have both refused to answer questions, citing privacy rules. 

Between December 2023 and March 31, CBC/Radio-Canada laid off 141 employees and cut 205 vacant positions. 

NDP heritage critic Niki Ashton said, "it is time to prohibit the CBC from giving bonuses to executives, and for it to use that money to save local journalism."

MORE National ARTICLES

Western Canada sweats in renewed heat wave, rivergoers told to avoid cheap floaties

Western Canada sweats in renewed heat wave, rivergoers told to avoid cheap floaties
Henke said most of the 50 calls the department has responded to so far this month have been to rescue people stranded on the Bow River, because they didn’t have the appropriate gear to float. Henke said crews will increase their presence along the river to educate people on the types of tubes and rafts that float safely on the water.

Western Canada sweats in renewed heat wave, rivergoers told to avoid cheap floaties

Mayor, PM say better infrastructure is crucial as Toronto cleans up after flood

Mayor, PM say better infrastructure is crucial as Toronto cleans up after flood
Chow called Tuesday a "challenging day" for Canada's most populous city, telling reporters that the widespread flooding brought urgent focus on the upgrades needed to the city's ageing infrastructure.   

Mayor, PM say better infrastructure is crucial as Toronto cleans up after flood

Unexpected dip in inflation rate in June

Unexpected dip in inflation rate in June
The inflation rate fell to 2.7 per cent in June, but the pace of growth in grocery prices accelerated for the second month in a row. Statistics Canada reports grocery prices rose 2.1 per cent year-over-year in June, up from May's increase of 1.5 per cent. This is the last inflation report before the Bank of Canada's next interest rate decision next Wednesday.

Unexpected dip in inflation rate in June

Cabinet to meet for first time since byelection loss amid speculation over shuffle

Cabinet to meet for first time since byelection loss amid speculation over shuffle
The Prime Minister's Office says the Liberal cabinet will have a brief meeting this Friday. A separate source with knowledge of the meeting who wasn't authorized to speak publicly said it was scheduled to be 20 minutes long.

Cabinet to meet for first time since byelection loss amid speculation over shuffle

Heat warnings spread in B.C. as records tumble in second heat wave for July

Heat warnings spread in B.C. as records tumble in second heat wave for July
Heat warnings have expanded across a broad swath of British Columbia, a day after temperatures reached into the low 40s in the Interior and daily heat records tumbled. Twenty-five heat alerts are in place, up from 21 Tuesday, stretching from Whistler in the southwest to the north and central coasts and deep into the Interior.

Heat warnings spread in B.C. as records tumble in second heat wave for July

B.C. pledges support for court challenge over equalization, mulls its own claim

B.C. pledges support for court challenge over equalization, mulls its own claim
David Eby says there are differences in the legal arguments B.C. would make, but the two provinces are united in the goal of reversing what he described as "perverse outcomes" from the equalization program for B.C. and Newfoundland taxpayers.

B.C. pledges support for court challenge over equalization, mulls its own claim