Bombardier execs’ pay raises ‘indecent’
Opposition fumes over hefty increases
• The three opposition parties in Quebec’s National Assembly are singing from the same songbook: they want the Liberal government to force Bombardier Inc. to cancel the hefty wage increases granted to executives that have sparked anger.
At separate news conferences Tuesday, the Parti Québécois, Coalition Avenir Québec and Québec solidaire parties laced into the Liberal government, saying it should have kept Bombardier executives on a short leash given the level of taxpayer dollars keeping the firm afloat.
“Philippe Couillard ( the premier) gave Bombardier a blank cheque and now we see what’s happening,” CAQ leader François Legault told reporters, calling the nearly 50 per cent wage increases “indecent.”
He attacked the premier for waiting several days before reacting to the increases granted to Bombardier’s top executives.
“It took the government four days before it started to realize Quebecers were angry,” Legault said.
His anger was bolstered by a spot Léger poll conducted f or TVA on t he weekend, which shows 93 per cent of Quebecers are against the increases.
“I have a hard time believing a single Liberal MNA isn’t in agreement with 93 per cent of the population,” PQ l eader Jean- François Lisée said at his news conference.
“They ( Bombardier) need to get a grip. At a time where Quebec saved their hide, this is way over the top.
“The premier should pick up the phone, call Bombardier and ask for the cancel- lation of the pay hikes. It’s what he should have done last Wednesday, last Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. He should do it today for the good of Bombardier itself and because this is scandalous and should not hold.”
Québec solidaire MNA Amir Khadir went so far as to say Bombardier’s decision amounted to the hijacking of the public purse given Quebec’s $ 1.3- billion contribution to Bombardier.
Québec solidaire launched a petition against the increases. In only a few days, the petition has gathered 27,000 signatures. The petition calls on the government to revisit the terms of its bailout deal with Bombardier.
All three parties plan to table motions Tuesday calling on the government to act to block the increases. It’s unclear any will be debated because such motions require the consent of the government to make it to the floor.
The controversy erupted last week with the announcement six top Bombardier bosses would see their wages increase by about 50 per cent at the same time as the company was saved from bankruptcy with about $ 3 billion in public funds, including $ 1.3 billion from Quebec and another $2 billion from the Caisse de dépot.
Despite t he cash, t he multinational still plans to lay off 14,500 employees by the end of 2018. In 2016, it lost $1 billion.
On Sunday, Bombardier backed away from the plan. It said it would delay payment of more than half of this year’s total planned compensation until 2020 and only if certain objectives are met.
Couillard said in a tweet he was satisfied with Bombardier’s decision. On Tuesday, he took no questions as he arrived for a Liberal caucus meeting.