The liberal government refuses to disclose whether it has approved a bonus for the president of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, as opposition Conservatives demand answers and New Democrats call for a ban on bonuses.

It is up to the federal government to approve a bonus for Catherine Tate after reviewing her performance and the recommendation of the board at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation referred questions to the federal government. The Canadian Heritage office, which oversees the Crown corporation, then referred questions to the Privy Council Office, which supports the cabinet and the Prime Minister.

Citing privacy laws, a spokesperson for the Privy Council Office said it could not disclose details, although some of this information from past years has become public.

In May, Tate told the House of Commons Heritage Committee that she received her last bonus for the 2021-22 fiscal year and had not yet received a performance pay for the 2022-23 fiscal year, information also available on the CBC website.

Tate's salary range is between $468,900 and $551,600, with the government setting her bonus between seven percent to 28 percent of her salary, if she meets certain criteria.

Opposition Conservatives want Tate to return to the hot seat and provide answers about bonuses.

The CBC/Radio-Canada board recently approved more than $18.4 million in bonuses for about 1,200 employees, managers, and executives for the 2023-24 fiscal year after cutting hundreds of jobs.

The Privy Council Office did not state whether the board recommended a bonus for Tate, or if the federal government has given its seal of approval.

New Democratic Party critic for Heritage, Rachel Thomas, said in a statement on Wednesday: "It is clear that Justin Trudeau and the liberal government are satisfied with giving massive bonuses in the millions to CBC executives and the carefully chosen CEO, funded by taxpayers amid declining viewership and increasing irrelevance as long as they remain good servants to their masters and continue to operate as a propaganda arm for the Liberal Party."

The independence of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation from the government is enshrined in law.

Tate has been called twice last year to the Heritage Committee to answer about cuts at CBC/Radio-Canada, and was questioned by MPs about whether she would accept a bonus for the fiscal year that ended on March 31.

The New Democrats did not say whether they want Tate to return to the Canadian Heritage Committee, but they accused the Liberals of failing to protect jobs at the public broadcaster and "curbing the greed of CBC executives."

They also attacked the Conservatives, saying that while the Conservatives want to pull funding from CBC, the New Democratic Party will work to improve it.

Niki Ashton, New Democratic Party heritage critic said in a statement, "Our public broadcaster provides an invaluable service to Canadians. "They are also accountable to Canadians."

"Therefore, it is time to stop CBC from paying executive bonuses and use that money to save local journalism."

In June, the CBC board publicly acknowledged the negative implications of granting bonuses during the same fiscal year it made cuts, and has since launched a review of its compensation system for future years.

Between December 2023 and March 31, when the last fiscal year ended, CBC/Radio-Canada eliminated 346 positions from the organization by laying off 141 employees and cancelling 205 vacant positions.

Tate has been called twice before the Heritage Committee to answer about the cuts, and MPs questioned her about whether she would accept a bonus for the fiscal year that ended on March 31.

The committee members unanimously concluded in a report to the House of Commons earlier this year that due to job cuts, it would be inappropriate for CBC to grant bonuses to board members.