Government still hasn't decided whether CBC CEO should receive a bonus

The Liberal government said today it has not yet made a decision on whether it will grant a bonus to the head of CBC after the public broadcaster eliminated hundreds of jobs.

Because of the Privacy Act, it will likely be up to CEO Catherine Tait to publicly disclose it if she does receive one, as she did for the 2021-22 fiscal year at a Canadian Heritage committee hearing. No one has stated publicly whether she was granted a bonus the following year.

Opposition Conservatives have been seeking support from other parties to bring Tait back to committee to answer the bonus question for 2023-2024.

So far, no other parties have joined that request, even though MPs on the committee unanimously agreed earlier this year that, given the job cuts, it would be inappropriate for CBC to grant bonuses to executive members.

WATCH | CBC president grilled over bonuses and layoffs:

CBC president grilled over bonuses and layoffs

10 months ago

Duration 0:01

Members of Parliament at the House Heritage Committee grilled CBC/Radio-Canada president Catherine Tait about looming layoffs and executive bonuses. In December 2023, the Crown corporation announced it would cut approximately 600 jobs and leave 200 vacancies unfilled.

Canadian Heritage declined to speak to The Canadian Press on the record this week and initially referred all questions to the Privy Council Office. The department said it couldn't answer any question related to Tait's potential bonus due to privacy laws.

On Friday, Canadian Heritage confirmed it is still mulling over the decision to approve performance pay for Tait, but cited privacy laws again to say that the decision would not be made public.