The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday, March 28, edition that BCE paid out millions of dollars in performance bonuses to its top executives after falling short of its 2023 financial targets, slowing its dividend growth and announcing thousands of job cuts. The Globe's David Milstead writes that BCE paid chief executive officer Mirko Bibic an annual bonus of $2.96-million as part of a $13.43-million compensation package last year, the company disclosed in its proxy circular to shareholders. His bonus was down slightly from $3.09-million in 2022. Wade Oosterman, president of Bell Media until his retirement in January, received a bonus of $1.08-million as part of $4.87-million in total compensation. Three other executives in their roles for all of 2023 received bonuses of between $853,470 and $923,400 as part of pay packages between $4.5-million and $6-million. BCE also said its 2024 dividend would increase by 3.1 per cent, a slower rate of increase than typical in the past decade. Spokesman Ellen Murphy said Bell's executive compensation policy is focused on attracting and retaining the best leadership and is based on "market rates, experience, scope of responsibilities and internal equity."