Canadian Federal Bureaucrats Paid $190 Million in Bonuses Last Year

Crown Corporations Hand Out $190 Million in Bonuses Amid Fiscal Scrutiny

Newly released government records reveal that Canada’s Crown corporations awarded more than $190 million in bonuses to executives and staff during the 2024–25 fiscal year.

Notable Payouts:

• The Business Development Bank of Canada topped the list, distributing over $60 million in bonuses. Reports indicate that every executive received a payout, averaging $216,000 each.
• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) followed with approximately $30.6 million in bonuses. Nearly 99% of executives were recipients, with average bonuses around $42,900.
• Despite posting $385 million in operating losses, VIA Rail paid out $11 million in executive bonuses.
• The Canada Infrastructure Bank issued $8.6 million in bonuses, with 83% of executives receiving an average of $197,000.

Other Crown entities, including Canada Post and the National Capital Commission, declined to share bonus figures, stating they had “nothing to report”.

Between 2015 and 2023, federal departments and agencies collectively distributed over $1.5 billion in bonuses — often despite falling short of performance targets.

Critics argue that these payouts place an undue burden on taxpayers, especially as Canada’s national debt continues to climb. Franco Terrazzano of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation criticized the practice, saying bonuses “shouldn’t be handed out like participation trophies” and called for an end to rewarding underperformance with public funds.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mark Carney has instructed Crown corporations to identify spending reductions of up to 15% by 2028, prompting calls for bonus programs to be among the first areas considered for cuts.