CBC Executives Received $14.9 Million in Bonuses in 2023

The CBC-Radio Canada building in Montreal on Jan. 28, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Ryan Remiorz)

CBC executives received a combined $14.9 million in bonuses for fiscal year 2023, even as the broadcaster laid off 141 employees and CEO Catherine Tait said the organization was suffering financial hardship, according to documents submitted to the House of Commons.

All 46 network executives received bonuses, for a combined $3,020,021, the CBC wrote in response to an Inquiry of Ministry, as first reported by Blacklock’s Reporter. Another 1,140 managers, or 99 percent of those on payroll, also received bonuses, worth a combined $11,883,734.

The figures were disclosed at the request of Conservative MP and House Leader Andrew Scheer, who asked, “With regard to bonuses paid out at Crown corporations in the 2023-24 fiscal year, how many and what percentage of officials at or above the executive level received bonuses?”

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation has repeatedly sought access-to-information records on CBC bonuses for eight executives, and filed a related complaint with the Office of the Information Commissioner on May 6. The CBC replied that it needed more time and would release details about the bonuses by May 10.

In December 2023, the broadcaster announced that about 600 CBC and Radio-Canada jobs would need to be eliminated and about 200 vacancies left unfilled due to a $125 million budget deficit.

When asked by Tory MP Rachael Thomas at a committee meeting in January whether the organization’s executives would still receive bonuses, Ms. Tait responded that it was too early to say.

Ms. Tait is paid $497,000 annually as chief executive officer, with her CEO bonus calculated at an average of 20 percent or an extra $100,000 annually.

In her May 7 testimony before the House of Commons Heritage Committee, Ms. Tait said she did not know whether she would receive a bonus for 2023. She added that, as of that time, 141 employees had been laid off and 205 vacant positions cut.

“After internal deliberations with the board of directors at our June board meeting, once we’ve had a chance to present the audited financial statements, there will be a discussion,” Ms. Tait said in response to a question by Ms. Thomas.

“I am referring to fiscal year 2023 which ended in March of 2024,” said Ms. Thomas.

“We have not issued any performance pay,” replied Ms. Tait.

When asked what the recommendation was for her 2023 bonus, Ms. Tait replied, “We have not had that conversation with the board.”

The inquiry document tabled in Parliament made no mention of Ms. Tait’s testimony. Overall federal subsidies for the CBC this year rose to a record $1.38 billion, $42 million more than the year before.