Nova Scotia issues verdict on judges' salaries, vetoes 9.5% pay hike

The Nova Scotia government is overruling a proposed pay increase for provincial and family court judges.

An independent tribunal recommended judges receive a total hikeof 9.5 per centover a three-year contract, beginning with 5.4 per centin the first year.

Instead, the government is imposing a settlement which provides for no pay increases in the first two years and just one per cent in the third.

"The salary increases recommended by the tribunal do not fit our economic situation and taxpayers' ability to pay,"Finance Minister RandyDeloreysaid in a newsrelease.

"Instead, we have adopted a fair salary increase for judges that stays within the fiscal plan."

Pay hike similar to other offers

The government said the salary increase mirrors settlements given to Crown attorneys and doctors. The release noted it's the same offer being made to public-sector workers.

Delorey arguedthe settlement is sufficient to attract excellent candidates to be judges and maintains judicial independence.

The McNeil government changed the rules last spring to give it the final say over judges' salaries. Prior to that, the independent tribunal's proposals were binding.

At the time, the Nova Scotia chapter of the Canadian Bar Association opposed the change, saying it appeared to infringe on judicial independence.

Judges currently make $236,376plus benefits. Their last three-year contract, which was set by the tribunal,had salary increases totaling 5.9 per cent.