News release

Judges' Salaries and Benefits Report Released

Justice

An independent tribunal has authorized an increase in judges' salaries of 3.4 per cent a year over three years.

The Provincial Judges' Salary and Benefits Tribunal Report, 2004-2007 is available on the government website at www.gov.ns.ca/just .

The increase applies to provincially appointed judges who serve in provincial and family courts, not federally appointed judges serving the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal.

Provincial and family court judges currently have salaries of $163,342.

"I want to thank members of the tribunal for their extensive research and their unanimous recommendations," Justice Minister Michael Baker said today, Dec. 7. "We have an excellent process here in Nova Scotia to ensure a fair and independent review of judicial salaries and benefits."

There were three members on the tribunal: Bruce P. Archibald, chair; Ronald Pink and Terry L. Roane. Their mandate was set out in the Provincial Court Act, which required them to recommend appropriate salaries, per diem payments for retired judges, vacation and sick leave benefits, pension benefits, long-term disability benefits, life insurance and health and dental benefits.