Quebec plans to clamp down on incentive bonuses for the heads of some Crown corporations while the province continues to deal with a major deficit.
Senior managers of the Societe des Alcools and Loto Quebec said at assembly meetings Friday they will go along with Finance Minister Raymond Bachand's plan to introduce legislation next week aimed at curbing extra salaries.
Bachand said the corporate head honchos will have to take cuts, just like civil servants, who over next three years will receive raises lower than the cost of living.
"If we're asking that belt tightening to 300,000 employees, maybe we'll have to ask that to everyone on the bonus system for a two-year period," said Bachand.
"I put my bonus on the table," said Philippe Duval of the SAQ. "It will be up to the government to decide if I keep any of it."
Duval said giving up the bonus is a gesture of solidarity with the senior managers of the civil service whose bonuses have been abolished.
Bachand said the cost-cutting measure showed respect for civil servants.
"One thing that I deplore is the attitude of many people that have no respect for civil servants," he said.
On Sunday, Premier Jean Charest said commercial Crown corporations were special cases, because the bonuses assure they attract the best managers.
"We need to assure we don't throw the baby out wit the bathwater," said Charest.
The opposition said it was unimpressed.
"It's the flip flop of the week; it's improvisation," said Parti Quebec MNA Nicolas Marceau.
Marceau said he recognized that the government is reacting to public anger over the budget.
"They're angry because of this feeling of injustice," said Marceau.
The heads of the SAAQ - Quebec's automobile insurance board - and Hydro Quebec have yet to comment on the cutback.
