Pierre Poilievre’s Secret Plan Revealed: Millions in Bonuses Amid CBC Scandal and Threats to Shut It Down

This week, shocking revelations about the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) have reignited Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's pledge to defund the public broadcaster if he wins the next federal election. The CBC recently approved a staggering $18.4 million in bonuses for nearly 1,200 employees, managers, and executives, despite laying off hundreds of workers in the same fiscal year. This massive payout, a 23% increase from the previous year’s $14.9 million, has sparked widespread outrage and raised serious questions about the use of taxpayer dollars.

In response to the news, Poilievre took to social media, doubling down on his long-standing promise to cut off funding to the CBC. He shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption "Defund the CBC," directing followers to a petition demanding the end of government subsidies for the broadcaster.

The petition, backed by thousands of Poilievre’s supporters, claims that CBC undermines private and independent media by competing for advertising space while receiving over $1 billion in taxpayer subsidies. "The CBC mostly provides opinions and coverage that are widely available in a free and competitive media marketplace," the petition argues, calling for the elimination of funding to save taxpayer dollars and promote a truly competitive press in Canada.

Poilievre's post quickly gained traction, amassing over 5,000 likes and hundreds of comments from supporters who echoed his call to defund the broadcaster. "Less than 4% of Canadians watch CBC. Those who want to watch it should pay for it themselves, not the taxpayers," one user commented, while another likened the bonus payout to "white-collar crime."

Poilievre further escalated the controversy by sharing a video featuring MP Melissa Lantsman questioning CBC/Radio-Canada President and CEO Catherine Tait about the size of her taxpayer-funded bonus. Tait repeatedly dodged the question, fueling further public outrage.

One commentator on Reddit expressed disgust, saying, "There shouldn't be any bonuses in years when a significant percentage of employees were laid off. This is just another example of the wealthy elite enriching themselves at everyone else's expense."

The Liberal government has so far refused to disclose whether it approved Tait's bonus, despite her annual compensation ranging between $472,900 and $623,900, according to the CBC’s 2023 senior management compensation summary. Tait's bonus pay is set between 7% and 28% of her salary, depending on whether she meets certain criteria.

Meanwhile, CBC's viewership continues to decline, with its English-language television audience dropping to just 4.4% during prime time, down from 7.6% five years ago. CBC’s flagship news program, the most expensive to produce in Canada, trails behind CTV and Global’s national newscasts in viewership.

Poilievre has long argued that most of CBC’s content could be produced in the marketplace due to advancements in technology. He has suggested that funding should only be maintained for some French-language content to serve linguistic minorities who might not otherwise receive news services.

Earlier this year, at a rally in Toronto, Poilievre made headlines by proposing to convert CBC’s headquarters in downtown Toronto into much-needed housing as part of a broader plan to sell off federal buildings and land. “It warms my heart to think of a beautiful family pulling up in their U-Haul to move into their wonderful new home in the former headquarters of the CBC,” he quipped.

As the federal election approaches, Poilievre is making the defunding of the CBC a central campaign issue. However, the Liberal government, through Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge’s office, has defended the broadcaster, stating that it "connects Canadians from coast to coast" and provides "reliable, independent news and information" in an era of rampant disinformation.

The debate over the CBC's future is heating up, with Poilievre positioning himself as the candidate who will protect taxpayer dollars and promote a free and competitive media landscape in Canada.