OTTAWA, February 11, 2009 – The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today released the Government's response to the report of the Special Advisor on Federal Court Prothonotaries' Compensation.
The Honourable George W. Adams was appointed Special Advisor on Federal Court Prothonotaries' Compensation and submitted his report to the Minister of Justice on May 30, 2008. The Special Advisor made a broad range of recommendations for significant improvements in prothonotaries' salaries and benefits.
As explained today in the Government's Response, due to the significant changes in economic circumstances that have occurred since the Special Advisor submitted his report, the Government has concluded that it would be unreasonable to implement the increases, and that prothonotaries' salaries should continue to be fixed at 69% of a Federal Court puisne judge's salary.Similarly, the Government has concluded that it would not be reasonable to implement enhancements to the prothonotaries' pension arrangements or other benefits at this time.
The Budget implementation legislation, which includes public sector-wide wage restraints, represents a key element of the Government's economic plan. Prothonotaries will receive similar treatment within the parameters of the constitutionally protected judicial compensation process; a process designed to safeguard judicial independence.
"Prothonotaries make an important contribution to the work of the Federal Court," said Minister Nicholson. "However, given this period of global economic uncertainty which requires sound fiscal management, now is not the time for the kind of major enhancements contemplated by the Special Advisor's Report." The Government's response is consistent with its conclusions with respect to compensation of superior court judges.
Prothonotaries are judicial officers of the Federal Court appointed by the Governor in Council. There are currently six prothonotaries.
An online version of the Government Response is available at:
www.canada.justice.gc.ca/eng/dept-min/pub/res-rep/
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Darren Eke
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Office of the Minister of Justice
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Media Relations
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