TORONTO, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is calling on the executives of the 2015 Pan Am Games to repay the $5.7 million they received in performance bonuses in light of the Auditor General’s findings that the games were $342 million over budget.
The total cost of the games was $2.5 billion, which is about 16 per cent above the $2.2 billion budget. Wynne’s government had promised $500 million for the games but ultimately will pay $804 million – 61 per cent over the budget.
“Pan Am Games executives were already extremely well compensated, despite running over budget. There were four pan am executives in the top 10 of the Sunshine List, and Games CEO Saad Rafi made $1.1 million in salary and severance,” said CTF Ontario Director Christine Van Geyn. “Performance bonuses should be for a job well done, not for going $342 million over budget. That $5.7 million should be repaid.”
The Wynne government defended the bonuses, claiming they were an incentive to keep people in their jobs.
“Few Canadians will understand the concept of getting a bonus because you showed up at work on time and didn’t quit,” continued Van Geyn. “The executives were well paid before the bonuses and to let them keep these bonuses is a slap in the face of taxpayers.”
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