During 2023 Canada's state broadcaster, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. (CBC), warned of a $125 million deficit, announced plans to cut 10% of its workforce, was bailed out with an extra $95 million from the Liberal government – and (it turns out) also handed out more than $25 million in raises and bonuses.
CBC hands out $15 million in bonuses despite laying off hundreds of staff | Western Standard | Western Standard News Services:
March 12, 2024 - "According to access-to-information records obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF), the CBC distributed a staggering $14.9 million in bonuses throughout 2023. This revelation has drawn sharp criticism, particularly in light of the broadcaster's announcement just weeks before Christmas, 2023 that it planned to lay off hundreds of employees. Since 2015, the CBC has issued a total of $114 million in bonuses.
"'CBC President Catherine Tait is wrong to hand out bonuses while announcing hundreds of job losses and begging the government for more taxpayer cash,' said Franco Terrazzano, CTF [Canadian Taxpayers Federation] Federal Director, condemning the actions of CBC leadership. Terrazzano further urged Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge to intervene and halt the distribution of bonuses in the face of ongoing layoffs.
"The disclosure indicates that 1,143 CBC staffers received bonuses in 2023, with costs to taxpayers totaling nearly $15 million. However, this number could potentially rise, as the data provided is current only up to October 26, 2023....
"Tait defended the bonuses, citing them as a crucial component of the total compensation package for non-union staff. Tait's remarks came during her appearance before a parliamentary committee in January 2024, where she faced questioning on executive bonuses and the planned workforce reductions.
"Further scrutiny revealed additional financial expenditures at the CBC, including $11.5 million in raises for the 2023/24 fiscal year, benefiting 6,575 employees, representing 87% of its workforce. These raises, obtained through separate access-to-information records, bring the total sum of pay raises since 2015 to $97 million. Moreover, data indicates that the number of CBC staffers earning six-figure salaries has surged by 231% since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assumed office in 2015.
"Despite Tait's assertions of 'chronic underfunding,' the federal government recently announced a substantial increase in funding for the CBC, totaling $96.1 million. This boost brings the broadcaster's taxpayer funding for the 2024/25 fiscal year to $1.4 billion....
"Tait's annual pay, which includes salary, bonus, and other benefits, falls between $472,900 and $623,900, according to CBC's senior management compensation summary."
CBC paying out millions in bonuses while laying off staff | True North | March 12, 2024:
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