Provincial judges ask for big salary boost

New Brunswick provincial court judges want a $30,000 raise to bring their salaries up to the level of their peers in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

The raise would bring their annual incomes up to $180,000.

In a submission to the Judicial Remuneration Commission, the independent group that sets judicial salaries, the judges say the raise would bring them to an average salary for provincial court judges in the country.

The judges say that until the salary gap is addressed, their pay levels will perpetuate the very harmful perception that the provincial court in New Brunswick is "an inferior court with inferior judges who somehow hand out second-class justice."

The province has offered a raise of about $16,000 immediately and $5,000 next year bringing their salaries to more than $170,000 next year.

The Judicial Remuneration Commission will hear arguments from both the government and the judges on April 3 at the Burton courthouse.