The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) report examined the 100 highest-paid CEOs at publicly traded Canadian-based companies for 2020. According to his report, more than one-third of the companies headed by those CEOs received the COVID-19 Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) either directly or indirectly through their subsidiaries or franchisees. The federal government introduced CEWS in March 2020 to help companies minimize job losses as COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns were imposed. According to the federal CEWS website, as of Dec. 19, Ottawa has paid out $99.13 billion under the program. Companies respondCBC News reached out for comment to several companies which, according to the CCPA report, received the CEWS and were headed by one of those 100 CEOs.

Source: CBC News January 05, 2022 02:17 UTC