The federal government has dismissed a proposal by an independent body recommending salary increases of $28,000 to $36,000 for federal judges. In a response released on Monday, the government stated its disagreement with the findings of the Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission, citing the current Canadian financial situation as the reason for rejecting the suggested raises.
The decision was made by the Department of Justice in response to the 7th Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission report issued in July. The government mentioned the impact of U.S. tariffs and the necessity to fulfill Canada’s NATO defense spending commitment as contributing factors to its decision.
While the commission suggested raising judicial salaries by $28,000, the government argued that the current yearly salary increments using the Industrial Aggregate Index are adequate. The commission proposed increasing the base salary for most federal judges from $396,700 to $424,700 and chief justices from $435,000 to $465,700. At the Supreme Court of Canada, the suggested salary for the chief justice would increase from $510,000 to $546,000.
Although the commission’s recommendations are non-binding, it plays a crucial role in setting the salaries for judges on various courts. Established in the late 1990s to ensure judicial independence in matters of compensation, the commission makes periodic recommendations based on attracting high-quality candidates, financial security, economic conditions, and other relevant factors.
The government disagreed with the commission’s assertion that judicial salaries pose challenges in attracting qualified candidates from the private sector. It highlighted the steady long-term growth of judicial salaries exceeding cost-of-living increases, with projections for continued growth. Formerly head of the Canadian Superior Court Judges Association, Sen. Pierre Dalphond expressed skepticism towards the government’s stance, emphasizing the affordability of implementing the commission’s recommendations compared to other government expenditures.
Dalphond referenced a previous situation in the mid-2000s where recommended raises were declined by the government. He noted that the government’s success in recruiting judges from large law firms indicates that current salaries are sufficient to attract competent candidates.