Housing Agency Bonus Controversy
Canadian Taxpayers Federation Criticizes Housing Corporation's $31 Million Bonus Payout Amid Affordability Mandate
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Canada's federal housing agency handed out more than $31 million in bonuses last year — even as millions of Canadians struggle to afford a home. According to Ottawa Citizen, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) awarded $31,720,451 in bonuses across 2,450 employees in the last fiscal year.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) obtained the figures from government disclosures and went public with its criticism. National Post reported the CTF described the payments as CMHC "rewarding its own failure with taxpayer dollars."
Who Got the Money and How Much
The bonuses were split across two groups. Edmonton Journal reported that 79 employees at or above the executive level received a share of the $31.7 million payout. Another 2,371 employees below the executive level also got bonuses.
The lower-level group made up 77.76% of all employees at that pay grade, according to Vancouver Sun. That means nearly 8 in 10 non-executive staff at CMHC walked away with bonus pay last year.
CTF Calls It Rewarding Failure on Taxpayers' Dime
The CTF did not hold back. The group pointed out a sharp contrast: CMHC's stated job is to make housing more affordable for Canadians. Yet the agency is paying out tens of millions in bonuses while housing costs remain near record highs across the country.
The Province reported the CTF asked every Crown corporation to disclose bonus data for the 2025-26 fiscal year, broken down by executive and non-executive staff. CMHC's numbers stood out as among the largest payouts of any Crown corporation reviewed.
CMHC's Mandate Versus Its Track Record
CMHC is a federal Crown corporation. Its official mandate is to promote housing affordability, improve access to housing finance, and support the health of Canada's housing sector. Stratford Beacon Herald noted the CTF highlighted this mandate directly when criticizing the bonuses.
Canada has faced a prolonged housing crisis. Home prices and rents in major cities remain far out of reach for average earners. Critics argue that paying $31 million in bonuses to agency staff sends the wrong message to Canadians who cannot afford a place to live.
CTF Pushes for Crown Corporation Bonus Transparency
The CTF's broader effort targets all federal Crown corporations, not just CMHC. The group requested bonus data across the government to give Canadians a clearer picture of how public agencies spend money on staff rewards. Woodstock Sentinel Review reported the request was specifically broken down by the share of employees at each level who received bonuses.
The CTF has long pushed for greater accountability in how Crown corporations spend public funds. This latest release is part of that ongoing effort to put specific dollar figures in front of Canadian taxpayers, according to Mitchell Advocate.
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