26500,
My thoughts are thus:
CHC wants to keep the business going but cannot tell the world what options are being looked at beyond the last filing with the SEC. In order to handcuff people to the business to secure them come what may, you use the bonus as the tool.
If the company filed for Ch 11 (Protection from Creditors) and the staff were not handcuffed to the business, most of them would just walk away, I know I would. The bonus means that people have to stay and therefore anyone looking to buy it once the restructuring is complete would have a business. With no people there is no business, esp as CHC owns almost no assets.
If it's a Ch 7 then all bets are off and there will be no bonus anyway. No salaries etc, what the Americans would call a disorderly default.
There is probably an element of buying some loyalty in these turbulent times and I suspect that Mgmt have probably thought that they've fired enough people so some morale wouldn't go amiss..!