SAQ CEO Philippe Duval says bonuses are necessary to attract the best talent to top jobs. (CBC)The Quebec government backed down Friday on a decision to maintain lucrative bonuses for top executives at Crown corporations.

Opposition parties have criticized the mounting bonuses at a time when the Liberal government has implemented austerity measures and announced a series of tax increases.

At the SAQ, the province's liquor board, bonuses for employees have increased by 134 per cent over the past five years to a total of $8 million.

The practice makes Quebecers angry, said Parti Québécois finance critic Nicolas Marceau.

"They are angry because they feel that there are some people that are immune to the economic circumstances while the average Quebecer has to pay more in taxes," Marceau said.

On Monday, Premier Jean Charest announced the government would cap bonuses for high-ranking bureaucrats. The heads of the Crown corporations would be immune from the cuts, Charest said.

But on Friday, Finance Minister Raymond Bachand made an about-face, announcing he would table legislation to cut bonuses for the government's corporate managers as well.PQ finance critic Nicolas Marceau says Quebec taxpayers get angry when Crown corporation executives are paid higher bonuses. (CBC)

"If we're asking for that belt tightening to 300,000 employees, maybe we have to ask everyone on the bonus system for a two-year period," Bachand said.

Liquor board CEO Philippe Duval said he has already volunteered to return most of his bonus this year.

But in the long run, Duval said, the SAQ will have to continue rewarding its top brass.

"The day that the SAQ no longer pays bonuses, it will not be a good day for public finances," Duval said.

Every manual and guide for running a corporation recommends the payment of bonuses to attract the best talent to top jobs, he said.

But opposition parties question whether executives who run public monopolies are entitled to the same sort of remuneration at the expense of taxpayers.