In 2023, CBC Executives Were Awarded $14.9 Million in Bonuses
CBC executives received a combined $14.9 million in bonuses for fiscal year 2023, despite the broadcaster laying off 141 employees and CEO Catherine Tait expressing financial hardship, according to documents submitted to the House of Commons.
According to the CBC’s response to an Inquiry of Ministry as reported by Blacklock’s Reporter, all 46 network executives received bonuses totaling $3,020,021. Additionally, 1,140 managers, or 99 percent of those on payroll, received bonuses totaling $11,883,734.
These figures were disclosed in response to a question by Conservative MP and House Leader Andrew Scheer regarding bonuses paid out at Crown corporations in the 2023-24 fiscal year.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation has been seeking access-to-information records on CBC bonuses for eight executives and filed a related complaint with the Office of the Information Commissioner. The CBC stated they needed more time to release details about the bonuses.
In December 2023, the CBC announced the need to eliminate about 600 jobs and leave 200 vacancies unfilled due to a $125 million budget deficit.
Ms. Tait, the CEO, receives an annual salary of $497,000, with a possible bonus of 20% amounting to an extra $100,000 annually.
Ms. Tait stated that discussions about her bonus for fiscal year 2023 would take place after presenting the audited financial statements at the June board meeting.
When asked about her bonus recommendation for 2023, Ms. Tait replied that there had been no conversation with the board yet.
The inquiry document presented in Parliament did not mention the details of Ms. Tait’s testimony. Overall federal subsidies for the CBC rose to a record $1.38 billion this year, an increase of $42 million from the previous year.
