Close X
Thursday, November 14, 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

Surrey Police to replace RCMP in Fall

Surrey Police to replace RCMP in Fall
Solicitor General Mike Farnworth says the deal sees the RCMP being replaced by the independent Surrey Police Service on Nov. 29 as part of a $250-million, 10-year agreement. 

Surrey Police to replace RCMP in Fall

Canadians feeling the financial heat this summer as housing pain intensifies; few see prices for essentials falling

Canadians feeling the financial heat this summer as housing pain intensifies; few see prices for essentials falling
As the mercury rises across the country, inflation has reportedly cooled, leading many Canadians to hope that better financial days lie ahead. Those days, however, are not yet here.

Canadians feeling the financial heat this summer as housing pain intensifies; few see prices for essentials falling

Feds invest $15M in health-care AI development through Vancouver tech cluster program

Feds invest $15M in health-care AI development through Vancouver tech cluster program
Champagne says the funding will be invested through the ministry's Vancouver-based technology cluster program in five medical tech companies, creating technology that automates certain tasks to enhance care.

Feds invest $15M in health-care AI development through Vancouver tech cluster program

Active wildfires tick up in central B.C., risk of lightning coming to the north

Active wildfires tick up in central B.C., risk of lightning coming to the north
There are two wildfires of note, meaning they are either highly visible or pose a threat to public safety, located in northwestern B.C. The wildfire service's map shows a cluster of about two dozen new fires sparked in the Cariboo.

Active wildfires tick up in central B.C., risk of lightning coming to the north

Targeted shooting in Surrey

Targeted shooting in Surrey
Police say they're investigating after a man turned up at the Surrey Memorial Hospital to receive treatment for minor gunshot injuries. R-C-M-P say officers were in the middle of responding to shots-fired reports along 66 Avenue near 127 Street when the man showed up at the hospital.

Targeted shooting in Surrey

Baby killed in crash

Baby killed in crash
Police say it happened early yesterday morning when the family's car collided with a tractor trailer. The two adults in the front were pronounced dead at the scene, while the baby was airlifted to hospital only to die a few hours later.

Baby killed in crash