CBC head Catherine Tait summoned to Commons committee over job cuts, executive bonuses
CBC/Radio-Canada to cut 10 per cent of workforce, end some programming as it faces $125M budget shortfall
The House of Commons heritage committee unanimously agreed Thursday to have the president of the public broadcaster address the cuts and potential bonuses.
The committee summoned Tait to appear at its first meeting in the new year following the holiday recess, but a date has not yet been set.
MPs on the committee also agreed to report to the House that, given the job cuts, it would be inappropriate for the CBC to grant bonuses to executives.
CBC spokesperson Leon Mar said in an email Thursday that the public broadcaster was aware of the motion passed at committee.
"We look forward to answering the committee members' questions," he wrote.
Because the public broadcaster is independent, members of Parliament cannot decide how CBC and its French-language service, Radio-Canada, spend their money.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corp., a Crown corporation, said Monday it planned to cut 600 jobs and not fill 200 vacancies over the next year as the public broadcaster grapples with a $125-million shortfall.
Following the announcement, Tait appeared on the flagship CBC News show "The National" and was asked whether executives would be getting rewarded this year despite the cuts.
"I'm going to presume no bonuses this year," said host Adrienne Arsenault. "Can we establish that's not happening this year?"
"It's too early to say where we are for this year," Tait replied. "We'll be looking at that, like we do all our line items in the coming months."
Following Tait's remarks, Mar confirmed the public broadcaster will not be reconsidering the bonuses it would have paid under existing contracts.
"Changes to our existing compensation agreements with employees, whether union or non-union, are not under review at this time," Mar said in an email to The Canadian Press.
Liberal, Conservative and NDP MPs on the heritage committee expressed shock over Tait's comments.
"As a former CEO I cannot possibly imagine having fired employees before Christmas and then contemplated taking a bonus," said Liberal MP Taleeb Noormohamed on Thursday.
He also serves as the parliamentary secretary to the minister of Canadian Heritage.
Parliamentary
Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage Taleeb Noormohamed rises
during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in
Ottawa on Oct. 6, 2023. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
"The government does not control the CBC and therefore we can't tell them what to do," he said.
"But I think it's very important for us as parliamentarians to ask Ms. Tate those very questions about the appropriateness of executives contemplating bonuses when she does appear."
CBC documents previously released through access-to-information law show bonuses worth more than $99 million were awarded to employees at the public broadcaster between 2015 and 2022.
That includes $16 million doled out last year to over 1,100 employees, the highest amount in at least seven years.
CBC defines its bonus program as a "short-term incentive plan."
It is intended to encourage "employee retention and to motivate employees to achieve or exceed business targets that are aligned with our strategic plan," the CBC spokesperson said earlier this week.
Heritage minister looks to 'reassess' CBC structure
Speaking before the Senate on Wednesday, Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge said she's open to reassessing the structure of CBC and Radio-Canada.
"Obviously, it is time to reopen the debate on the future of our public broadcaster," St-Onge told senators in French.
"We also need to reassess its entire structure to ensure its long-term viability."
With files from CBC News
And deservedly so.
David Amos
Reply to Andrew Hillman
Oh So True
Ironically, in the private sector cutting costs and raising bonuses is what the game is all about
yes the bankers are doing well this quarter, despite making nothing but bad loans
Reply to Mathieu Durocher
Go figure
The NDP and Liberals will use crosstalk and yelling to do what ever it takes to save the Little Mosque on the Prairie reunion episode
Reply to Michael Lawlor
Thats how the wicked game is played
Time to leave Ma'am.
Reply to Gord Murray
I second that emotion
I have to admit that their front page article on the colour of the year has me wondering how prioritize their funding.
David Amos
Reply to Eileen Kinley
Of that I have no doubt
The PMO are panicking
Big time.
and rightly so, have you seen the polls :)
Reply to david kirby
As well they should
It was almost a Dingwall moment when Tait said she hadn't ruled out bonuses for execs.
People so utterly disconnected from the real world need to be brought into line
Or better yet stripped of their privileges.
Unbelievable and yet typical in some sets
Reply to Gordon MacFarlane
Reply to Gordon MacFarlane
Eileen Kinley
I too fail to see how they can justify bonuses for the execs while laying off employees. The article implies that some contracts have bonuses built into them. I can see how that would be problematic to
renege on. Of course those who are set to receive the bonuses could refuse them.
Who appointed her to the position in 2018, Duh
These appointments were subject to the Government of Canada’s open, transparent and merit-based selection process, which resulted in the identification of high-quality candidates who reflect Canada’s
diversity. These selections were guided by an Independent Advisory Committee chaired by Tom Clark. The Committee was a non‑partisan body consisting of nine regionally diverse members representing various disciplines and reflecting Canada’s diversity.
still believe in Santa?
However, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation/Societe Radio-Canada is appointed by the Governor General-in-Council through an Order-in-Council under the
Broadcasting Act.
The Advisory Committee is just that: advisory.
so they were all JT,s gang got it.
Reply to Brian Paradis
Apparently so
Reducing funding leads to job cuts, but why aren't executive bonuses affected? Our tax dollars funds executive bonuses. Nice
David Amos
Reply to Julie Lee
Welcome to the circus
Tait is entitled to her entitlements.
David said so
David Amos
Reply to Rudy Whelan
He is a lawyer hence he must know