Well, we provided notice.
Evidence of meeting #115 for Canadian Heritage in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was company.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #115 for Canadian Heritage in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was company.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:10 p.m.
Executive Vice-President, Chief Legal and Regulatory Officer, BCE Inc.
Well, we provided notice.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
4:10 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, BCE Inc.
We gave notice and provided the minimum salary of 16 weeks, so we were fully compliant.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Why did it take me five minutes to get a straight answer?
4:10 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, BCE Inc.
The answer hasn't changed, which is that we were compliant.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
No, it absolutely has. You evaded for the first four and a half minutes, and then finally, in the last 30 seconds, I got an answer. Why?
Do you think this is a joke? Do you enjoy wasting my time?
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
There's nothing technical about it. Either you know the legislation, or you don't. You either followed it or you didn't, and you said you did. Therefore, you must know what was carried out.
4:10 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, BCE Inc.
There were specific details and requirements under the legislation that I knew we complied with. I didn't have the specific details at my fingertips when you first asked the question, but I knew that we were fully compliant, which is why I answered as such. The answer has not changed.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
I'm sorry, Mrs. Thomas. The time is up. In fact, we're a little over time.
I want to go now to Ms. Anju Dhillon, from the Liberals.
Ms. Dhillon.
April 11th, 2024 / 4:10 p.m.
Liberal
Anju Dhillon Liberal Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you to our witnesses for being here.
I have some follow-up questions. First of all, was it 16 weeks' notice or 16 weeks—
4:15 p.m.
Bloc
Martin Champoux Bloc Drummond, QC
I have a point of order, Madam Chair.
Could I ask my colleague to move her earphones away from her microphone to avoid acoustic feedback, for the sake of the interpreters?
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Anju Dhillon Liberal Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle, QC
I'll take them off. Is that better now?
Were 16 weeks of notice or 16 weeks of severance provided?
4:15 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, BCE Inc.
We gave notice, and all employees are therefore paid during the full 16 weeks, at minimum.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Anju Dhillon Liberal Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle, QC
They were all fired at the same time. Can you talk to us a little about their personal situations when it came to that?
4:15 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, BCE Inc.
Chair, just for clarification, I believe that question would be in respect of the unionized team members, because it depends. If you were management or union or non-management, we had a different process.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Anju Dhillon Liberal Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle, QC
What is the division of the roles of all the talented team members who were cut?
4:15 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, BCE Inc.
There would be about 850 of the 4,800 that were vacant positions. Those positions were eliminated.
About 800 of the positions were unionized team members, and 60% of those chose a voluntary separation package. They identified themselves as being willing to depart the company. Then there were management team members. Across the board, all 4,800, less the vacant positions, of course, where there was no individual attached to the position.... It's very difficult for them in particular. It's a very difficult decision to make, but more fundamentally it's difficult for each of those individuals affected.
We acknowledge their vast contributions to Bell. That's why we made sure to follow the legislative requirement to provide separation packages, career transition packages and continued benefits.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Excuse me, Ms. Dhillon. There is feedback from your microphone. We're hearing it from the interpreters. If you have a device close to the microphone, could you move it away? Thank you.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Anju Dhillon Liberal Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
What means were given to give notice at the time of firing?
4:15 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, BCE Inc.
Again, I'll just clarify, because I do want to properly answer the honourable member's questions. With respect to the unionized team members and the management members, there are different processes.