Hydro-Quebec CEO’s compensation could approach $1 million

Claudine Bouchard. (Source: Hydro-Quebec)

Hydro-Quebec’s new boss will be entitled to compensation that could approach $1 million if she receives her maximum bonus.

The compensation of the new CEO, Claudine Bouchard, could reach $988,500, according to information contained in a decree issued by François Legault’s government.

Bouchard is entitled to an annual salary of $659,000.

The board of directors may also grant her a performance bonus, but this cannot exceed half the value of her salary.

With this promotion, Bouchard will see her annual salary increase by 11.7 per cent compared to what she earned as chief operating and infrastructure officer.

In 2024, she received an annual salary of $589,948, for total compensation of $933,362, according to the Crown corporation’s annual report.

The new CEO’s compensation is in line with that of her predecessor, Michael Sabia, who received a salary of $663,577 and total compensation of $839,516 in 2024.

In 2025, Bouchard’s compensation will be determined based on the number of months she served as CEO versus her previous position.

Bouchard was appointed head of the Crown corporation on July 5, following Sabia’s departure, when he became the federal government’s most senior civil servant.

She will be responsible for steering Hydro-Quebec’s massive investments, which include plans to deploy $200 billion by 2035 to increase production and improve the reliability of its network.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on July 23, 2025.