Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
National

CBC paid over $18 million in bonuses in 2024 after it eliminated hundreds of jobs

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 12 Aug, 2024 10:58 AM
  • CBC paid over $18 million in bonuses in 2024 after it eliminated hundreds of jobs

The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. paid $18.4 million in bonuses this year after hundreds of jobs at the public broadcaster were eliminated. 

Documents obtained through access to information laws show CBC/Radio-Canada paid out bonuses to 1,194 employees for the 2023-24 fiscal year.

More than $3.3 million of that was paid to 45 executives. 

That means those executives got an average bonus of over $73,000, which is more than the median family income after taxes in 2022, according to Statistics Canada. 

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

The Conservatives said bonuses are "beyond insulting and frankly sickening," adding they come at a time when many Canadians are starving and facing homelessness. 

The board approved the bonuses in June, but it had been refusing to disclose how much was paid out. 

Members of Parliament have been asking for the figure since last December, when CBC announced it would be laying off employees to help balance its budget.

Ultimately 141 employees were laid off and 205 vacant positions were eliminated at CBC/Radio-Canada. 

CBC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

The public broadcaster has said the money is performance pay and counts toward some employees' total compensation, as stipulated by contracts that promise payouts when certain company goals are met.

In May, CEO Catherine Tait said it brings her "great frustration" that MPs refer to the payouts as a "bonus."

"A bonus, in my mind, is something that is given out on a discretionary basis," she said at House of Commons heritage committee meeting. "Performance pay is a part of the total compensation of an individual that is contracted or agreed upon at the beginning of their employment."

Nonetheless, its board acknowledged the negative optics of giving out bonuses during the same fiscal year that it made cuts, and has since launched a review of its compensation regime for future years.

Tait was called twice to the heritage committee in the last year to answer for cuts at CBC/Radio-Canada, and was interrogated by MPs over whether she would accept a bonus for the fiscal year that ended March 31. 

It remains unclear if Tait is among those who received a bonus. 

It's up to the Liberal government, not the board of directors, to approve any bonus for the CEO, unlike other CBC employees. The Canadian Press has asked Canadian Heritage for comment on that. 

"It is the height of smugness to see the CBC has awarded itself $18 million in bonuses with the $1.4 billion a year they receive from taxpayers to act as the mouthpiece for the Liberal party," Conservative MP and Opposition Heritage critic Rachael Thomas said in a statement on Monday. 

Thomas said CBC is "not worth the cost" while repeating the Conservative promise to defund the public broadcaster, and pledging to "turn the CBC headquarters into beautiful homes for Canadian families."

The CBC's editorial independence from government is enshrined in law.

MORE National ARTICLES

Alleged sexual assault in Kelowna

Alleged sexual assault in Kelowna
RCMP in Kelowna are investigating after a woman accused a man of trying to sexually assault her as she was walking along a trail in Mission Creek Regional Park. The woman told officers that the man grabbed her last night and tried to assault her, but she was able to run away and call police.

Alleged sexual assault in Kelowna

B.C. police seek witnesses, video of 93-year-old woman being pushed in front of bus

B.C. police seek witnesses, video of 93-year-old woman being pushed in front of bus
Mounties in Penticton are looking for witnesses after they say a 93-year-old woman was pushed in front of a moving city bus. Police received a report around 11 a.m. on Wednesday that a woman pushing a cart full of belongings "forcefully pushed" the elderly woman into the path of the bus as it left a stop near Calgary Avenue and Main Street.

B.C. police seek witnesses, video of 93-year-old woman being pushed in front of bus

Wildfire that forced thousands from Fort Nelson now listed as under control

Wildfire that forced thousands from Fort Nelson now listed as under control
The wildfire that forced 4,700 people to leave their homes in Fort Nelson, B.C., is now listed as under control. The BC Wildfire Service says in a social media statement that the 123-square-kilometre fire in northeastern B.C. is not expected to grow beyond its current boundary. 

Wildfire that forced thousands from Fort Nelson now listed as under control

RCMP, B.C. Securities Commission deliver warnings to 10 suspected 'money mules'

RCMP, B.C. Securities Commission deliver warnings to 10 suspected 'money mules'
Police and the British Columbia Securities Commission say they have delivered warnings to 10 suspected "money mules" in an effort to fight investment fraud originating overseas and targeting people in the province. A joint statement issued by the commission and RCMP says investigators have hand-delivered warning letters to people in Metro Vancouver who were suspected of transferring funds on behalf of criminals.

RCMP, B.C. Securities Commission deliver warnings to 10 suspected 'money mules'

Seaplane collides with boat, crashes into Vancouver's Coal Harbour

Seaplane collides with boat, crashes into Vancouver's Coal Harbour
A seaplane collided with a pleasure boat on Vancouver's downtown Coal Harbour waterfront Saturday, injuring a number of passengers on both craft. The crash happened just before 1 p.m. in the waters near Canada Place, Vancouver Police spokeswoman Const. Tania Visintin said in a statement.

Seaplane collides with boat, crashes into Vancouver's Coal Harbour

Foreign meddling inquiry must investigate allegations against MPs: opposition parties

Foreign meddling inquiry must investigate allegations against MPs: opposition parties
Federal opposition parties say a public inquiry into foreign interference must address findings that some MPs "wittingly" participated in meddling.  The House of Commons is set to vote on a Bloc Québécois motion that says the mandate of the inquiry should be expanded.

Foreign meddling inquiry must investigate allegations against MPs: opposition parties