The recommendations of the 2014 Provincial Court Commission regarding salary increases and benefits for Provincial Court judges take effect January 31, 2015. The Provincial Court Commission is established under The Provincial Court Act, 1998 to complete an independent review of judicial remuneration and benefits. It is established every three years to make recommendations based on submissions from interested parties and the public.
The 2014 Commission, chaired by Doug Hodson, Q. C., recommended salary increases equivalent to the Consumer Price Index plus 2% each year for the next three fiscal years between April 1, 2015 and March 31, 2018. The Commission also recommended increasing the annual professional allowance from $3,650 to $4,000. Provincial Court judges are currently paid $260,819 annually. The Government proposed a modest increase tied to the Consumer Price Index.
“Our government values the important role Provincial Court judges play in Saskatchewan’s justice system” Minister of Justice Minister and Attorney General Gordon Wyant said. “While we are disappointed with the Commission’s recommendations given the current fiscal realities facing the province, we recognize that the judge’s situation is a special case that is not the result of collective bargaining, but results from a commission process that recognizes the independence of the judiciary in our system of constitutional government.”
The Supreme Court of Canada has established that provincial governments must use an independent compensation commission to consider judges’ salaries. The Provincial Court Commission is independent from the provincial government.
A copy of the Provincial Court Commission Report can be viewed at http://www.justice.gov.sk.ca/provcourtcomm/.
