The provincial government says it’s “considering” an order by the Supreme Court to implement raises for provincial court judges.

The raises were recommended by an independent tribunal in 2019 but still have not been approved, as required, in the House of Assembly.

As VOCM News reported earlier today, a Supreme Court judge has ordered government to get it done by April 14th.

Justice Daniel Boone ruled government acted “in an unconstitutional manner” toward the 22 judges of the provincial court.

Specifically, by failing to either approve, amend or reject pay increases recommended by the tribunal.

It called for a nearly 8 per cent hike over four years, from 2017 to 2021, pushing salaries over $250,000, with a year retroactive.

The government twice balked at putting it to a vote as required, and still has not done so.

But they’ll have to now, or else Boone said he’ll deal with it himself.

In a statement to VOCM News, a spokesperson for the Justice minister stated they respect Boone’s decision, adding they’re mulling over the steps necessary to comply with the order.

“We plan to move forward with the notice given in the House of Assembly this session to bring forward amendments to the Provincial Court Act, 1991, which follow consultations with the Provincial Court Judges Association,” said the statement.

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The Supreme Court has ordered the government to give provincial court judges the raises they were due almost three years ago.

And they must do it in the House of Assembly by April 14th.

In his decision released Thursday, Justice Daniel Boone ruled the government acted “in an unconstitutional manner” toward the 22 judges of the provincial court.

Specifically, by failing to either approve, amend or reject pay increases recommended by a tribunal in June of 2019.

It called for a nearly 8 per cent hike over four years, from 2017 to 2021, pushing salaries over $250,000, with a year of retro.

But fiscal restraint was top of mind at the time, and the idea of raises for judges was fuel for the Opposition fire, so it was twice shelved.

Justice Boone said government’s weak support for it only encouraged political interference — exactly what the tribunal was set up to avoid.

Then-Justice Minister Andrew Parsons even warned that government would waste money, losing in the courts if it wasn’t approved.

He was right, yet to this day the government has still not put it to a vote in the House.

But they’ll have to now.

If they don’t, Boone has already offered to take care of it himself “immediately thereafter.”