The Trudeau government lavished public service managers with over $190 million in bonuses in 2021, House of Commons records show.
According to Blacklock’s Reporter, the Treasury Board signed off on the bonuses while maintaining that Canada had a “world class public service.”
“Canada has a world class public service with employees committed to providing the highest level of service to Canadians,” wrote Treasury Board President Mona Fortier.
“In fact Canada’s public service is regularly recognized globally for its quality and effectiveness.”
Bonuses in the form of “performance pay” reached $190,725,106 in 2021 with 16,069 managers receiving the additional pay.
“Incentive plans that reward executives for the delivery of expected results are common among Canadian private and public sector organizations including within Canada’s federal public service,” said Fortier.
Every single executive at the Communications Security Establishment, Economic Development for Quebec, Governor General’s Secretary, the Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre received a bonus.
“Executives in the core public administration are eligible for performance pay when they meet the commitments outlined in their annual performance agreements,” said Fortier.
Executives with the Canadian Tourism Commission raked in over $32,000 in bonuses per employee while the industry shut down due to government lockdowns.
According to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF), 87% of managers in the organization received a pay out.
“Crown corporations should be sharing in the tough times,” said CTF Federal Director Franco Terrazzano.
“They should not be handing out bonuses and pay raises while their neighbours outside government take cuts and lose their jobs.”
The pandemic also saw the number of executives employed by the federal government balloon by over 21%.
A record 7,900 positions were added in management across the public sector.
Public servants have also refused to return back to the workplace as Canada enters another year of hybrid parliament.
