GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS RECOMMENDATIONS OF PROVINCIAL COURT COMMISSION

The government has accepted the recommendations of the Provincial Court Commission for changes to the salary and benefits for judges of the provincial court.

The Commission recommended that judges' salaries be set at $195,000. The increase is effective April 1st, 2006, with annual adjustments in April 2007 and April 2008 equal to the Saskatchewan Consumer Price Index.

The Supreme Court of Canada established the process government must use to establish judges' salaries. Under the Constitution, the provinces' ability to reject the Commission's recommendations is strictly limited.

"The Province made a strong submission at the public hearing that the current salary needed only to be modified by the Consumer Price Index, and that the Commission consider the salary levels of professional men and women in Saskatchewan," Justice Minister Frank Quennell said. "While the Commission considered our argument, it took the view that the salaries of other provincial court judges in Canada was the most important factor. The Commission also considered the currently healthy economic position of the province."

Quennell said that this salary increase is substantial. "Judges are already well paid," Quennell said. "Although the Commission did not ignore this fact, it obviously felt that the salary for Saskatchewan Provincial Court Judges should be in line with the national average."

The Commission was established under The Provincial Court Act to do an independent review of judicial remuneration and benefits for the period April 1st, 2006, to March 31st, 2009. As part of its review, the Commission received submissions from interested parties and held public hearings in November 2005.

-30-

For More Information, Contact:

Andrew Dinsmore Justice Regina Phone: (306) 787-8606