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Toronto Sun
21-07-2025
- Business
- Toronto Sun
CBC hands out record-breaking raises to offset loss of executive bonuses
Canada's national broadcaster paid $37.7 million in salary raises in 2024-25 to 6,295 employees — significantly more than previous years The CBC building at Front and John Street in Toronto, Sept. 6, 2011. Photo by Alex Urosevic / Toronto Sun file photo OTTAWA — Just months after Canada's national broadcaster announced the end of big-money bonuses to its senior execs, newly-obtained documents suggest the CBC handed out a record-setting amount of raises during the previous fiscal year. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account In access-to-information documents obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, the CBC handed out no bonuses in 2024-25, but awarded $37.7 million in wage hikes to 6,295 employees. That's an average of $6,000 per employee. CTF Federal Director Franco Terrazzano described it as 'sleight of hand' by the CBC. 'The CBC isn't saving people money if it's replacing taxpayer-funded bonuses with higher taxpayer-funded pay raises,' he said, noting the raises more than offset the cost of the eliminated bonuses. 'CBC misunderstood the assignment and learned nothing from the outrage it received across the political spectrum.' The documents also noted that no employee saw a pay cut in the last fiscal year. In 2023-24, previously-released documents state the national broadcaster handed out about $11.5 million in raises to 6,575 employees. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In a May 2025 post, the CBC announced that after an independent review of how they compensate non-union employees and senior executives, the Crown corporation opted to discontinue their bonus program, which the broadcaster called 'individual performance pay,' to keep compensation within established norms. Recommended video 'Total compensation for CBC/Radio-Canada employees is in the middle (50th percentile) of compensation for employees in our peer group of media, private and public organizations,' the note read. 'In order to keep overall compensation at the current median level, salaries of those affected will be adjusted to reflect the elimination of individual performance pay.' CBC spokesperson Leon Mar disputed the CTF's interpretation of the release. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'To say that these adjustments 'more than offset the loss of performance pay' is incorrect, and to characterize these changes, which were made public on May 14, as a 'sleight of hand' is bizarre,' he said, reiterating that the raises were given to keep overall compensation at median levels to reflect the elimination of performance pay. In a statement previously sent to the CTF and provided to The Toronto Sun, the CBC said that because they hire people with competitive market skills, salary ranges 'reflect the need to attract and retain' skilled workers. 'If Prime Minister Mark Carney is serious about saving money, he needs to step in and put an end to the CBC gravy train,' Terrazzano said. 'Or better yet, Carney should defund the CBC.' bpassifiume@ X: @bryanpassifiume Read More Other Sports World Toronto & GTA Toronto Blue Jays Relationships
Toronto Sun
11-07-2025
- Business
- Toronto Sun
CTF says CBC staff with 6-figure salaries has more than doubled in last decade
The CBC/Radio Canada sign on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporations building in Vancouver is pictured on May 28, 2013. Photo by Gerry Kahrmann / Postmedia Network files The Canadian Taxpayers Federation says the number of CBC staff collecting six-figure salaries has more than doubled since 2015 according to access-to-information records. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account 'Taxpayers don't need all these extra CBC employees taking six-figure salaries,' said Franco Terrazzano, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation's federal director , in a statement. 'The government should save money by taking air out of its highly paid bureaucracy and that includes Crown corporations like the CBC.' The CTF says in the fiscal year, 2024-25, 1,831 CBC employees took a six-figure salary, according to the records obtained by access to information with those salaries costing taxpayers about $240 million in 2024 for an average salary of $131,060 for those employees. The federation says a decade ago in the 2015-16 fiscal year, 438 CBC employees took home six-figure salaries, for a total cost to taxpayers of about $59.6 million. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The CTF says the number of CBC staffers with a six-figure salary increased 17% over the last year and since 2015, that number has increased 318%. The federation says the CBC will cost taxpayers more than $1.4 billion this year, according to the main estimates. 'Canadians should be able to pick the content they want to pay for instead of the government forcing them to pay for the CBC with their taxes,' Terrazzano said the CBC in a statement. 'And other media organizations shouldn't be forced to compete with the taxpayer-funded CBC. It's time to defund the CBC.' The CTF says while most provincial governments proactively publish annual sunshine lists to provide transparency on employee compensation, Ottawa does not. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The federation has repeatedly called on the federal government to proactively publish a sunshine list to disclose the salaries of the government's highest paid employees. More than 110,000 federal bureaucrats took home a six-figure base salary in 2023, according to separate access-to-information records obtained by the CTF. —- Here's CBC sunshine list and cost, per access-to-information records obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation with the fiscal year, number of staff earning $100,000, and total paid to staff earning $100,000: 2015-16: 438, $59.6 million 2016-17: 467, $63.6 million 2017-18: 511, $68.7 million 2018-19: 599, $78.0 million 2019-20: 729, $93.4 million 2020-21: 838, $106.2 million 2021-22: 949, $119.5 million 2022-23: 1,378, $170.4 million 2023-24: 1,566, $192.7 million 2024-25: 1,831, $240.0 million Editorial Cartoons World Toronto & GTA Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto & GTA
CBC
26-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Former northeastern Ontario MPs to get $59K to $119K in annual pension, says lobby group
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the federal government to reign in the retirement pay for MPs, as four former members from northeastern Ontario become pensioners. For years, after every federal election, the lobby group has calculated how much each departing MP will receive in pension and publishes a list of estimates, because it says the government doesn't make those figures public. "It's taxpayers money. Canadians deserve to know," said the organization's federal director Franco Terrazzano. "I don't think it's going to sit well with many Canadians who are struggling just to get by." The federation estimates that former Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus, will receive an annual pension of $119,000 after 20 years in the House of Commons. Not far behind him, Anthony Rota— who served 16 years as MP for Nipissing-Timiskaming, including nearly four as Speaker of the House— is estimated to be getting $113,000 every year. Both decided not to run again and neither replied to CBC's requests for comment. Carol Hughes spent 16 years as the MP for Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing before deciding to retire this year. She says the federation's estimate of her annual pension at $99,000 is probably accurate. "I don't think that anybody actually goes in there thinking 'Hey, I'm going to get a good pension, that's why I'm running.' I would hope not, because it's a lot of work," Hughes said. "I certainly didn't even know anything about the pension when I ran. And it's difficult for individuals to leave their careers behind, run for election and not have anything at the end of the day." Provincial politicians used to receive a similar pension after serving a minimum of six years, but that was scrapped nearly 30 years ago and replaced with a one-time severance payment. "I have heard from MPPs that they find it very difficult," Hughes said. "If we want to attract great candidates... we have to look at a proper benefit program." But she added that she does think a review of the pension system, or any long-standing policy, is always a good thing for the government. Marc Serré lost his seat in the April 28 election, after nine years as the MP for Nickel Belt. In a statement to CBC, he said the Canadian Taxpayers Federation estimate of his annual pension at $59,000 was "on the high side." "I'm grateful for the pension I received and deeply appreciate the many people who have reached out with support. Serving as a Member of Parliament comes with enormous personal and family sacrifices, and I'm proud of what we achieved together in Nickel Belt," the statement reads. "Unfortunately, pension figures are sometimes used as partisan wedges, when in reality they reflect service from across the political spectrum." Terrazzano says the taxpayers federation would like to see the federal government eliminate the second pension for prime ministers— Justin Trudeau gets one for his 17 years as MP, plus a second for his nine years as prime minister— as well as space out annual salary increases, which ultimately also drive up pension payouts. "There is no way that MPs should be continuing to give themselves higher pay every year," he said.
Edmonton Journal
21-05-2025
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
Justin Trudeau set to earn more than $8 million in government pensions and severance
Article content Trudeau, the group said, will receive $104,900 in severance. If he lives to age 90, he will receive $8.4 million in pension payments for his more than 16 years of service as a member of Parliament and almost 10 years as prime minister. There is a separate pension for being an MP and for being prime minister, said Franco Terrazzano, the federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. 'This is Canadian taxpayers' money. Canadians deserve to know how much politicians are making when they're in office, but then also, too, how much they're getting when they leave office, right? It's the fundamental principle of transparency and accountability,' Terrazzano said. Canadian parliamentarians become eligible for a pension after six years of service. That means that 29 MPs who lost their jobs won't receive pensions. However, they did receive severance pay. MPs receive severance if they are ineligible for a pension or if they have not reached 55 — the age the pension begins. That means that some former MPs receive both a pension and severance if they served six or more years but are not yet 55.
Calgary Herald
21-05-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Justin Trudeau set to earn more than $8 million in government pensions and severance
Article content Article content The advocacy group ran the numbers on the pension entitlements of all 110 members of Parliament who either didn't run for re-election or lost their bid to return to Ottawa. Article content Among them was Trudeau, who did not run in the 2025 federal election, having announced in early January his intention to resign as leader of the Liberal party and as prime minister. Article content Article content Trudeau, the group said, will receive $104,900 in severance. If he lives to age 90, he will receive $8.4 million in pension payments for his more than 16 years of service as a member of Parliament and almost 10 years as prime minister. There is a separate pension for being an MP and for being prime minister, said Franco Terrazzano, the federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Article content Article content 'This is Canadian taxpayers' money. Canadians deserve to know how much politicians are making when they're in office, but then also, too, how much they're getting when they leave office, right? It's the fundamental principle of transparency and accountability,' Terrazzano said. Article content Canadian parliamentarians become eligible for a pension after six years of service. That means that 29 MPs who lost their jobs won't receive pensions. However, they did receive severance pay. MPs receive severance if they are ineligible for a pension or if they have not reached 55 — the age the pension begins. That means that some former MPs receive both a pension and severance if they served six or more years but are not yet 55. Article content Article content Severance for a backbencher is $104,900 and severance for a cabinet minister is $154,850. Article content Article content The smallest pension on the list goes to Quebec Liberal Yves Robillard, who was first elected in 2015, and represented the Quebec riding of Marc-Aurèle-Fortin. He will receive just $387,000 by the time he is 90. Article content Trudeau has the largest pension of the bunch, receiving $141,000 annually. Article content Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who lost his seat of Carleton, is entitled to more than $7 million in pension payments, although he intends to run in a byelection and return to the House of Commons, and is not taking the severance that he would otherwise be entitled to. Former NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, who resigned after losing his Burnaby Central seat, will collect $140,300 in severance and will receive almost $2.7 million in pension payments by age 90.
