Provincial court judges fighting for raise, hearing set for December

Instead of presiding behind a bench, provincial court judges will go before one during a hearing about their salaries this December.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Provincial Court Judges has filed an application against the provincial government after the House of Assembly voted to freeze judges' wages despite an independent tribunal recommendation that they get a 14 per cent raise.

In court documents, the judges say they are "by far the lowest paid judges in Canada."

A three-day hearing is set to begin Dec. 5.

If the suggested increase were to be implemented, 23 full-time provincial court judges would make nearly $250,000 a year. They're currently paid about $215,000 annually.

Justice Minister Andrew Parsons has said the province can't afford to give provincial court judges a raise adding everybody is impacted by Newfoundland and Labrador's fiscal situation.

The salaries were reviewed independently by a tribunal because the provincial government can't legally set wages for provincial court judges as there could be a potential conflict of interest.