OTTAWA — The Canadian Superior Courts Judges Association (CSCJA) has filed a lawsuit against Justice Minister Sean Fraser after he denied a proposed salary increase for federally-appointed judges, which would raise their pay by $28,000 to $38,000. The CSCJA argues Fraser’s refusal lacked proper justification and undermines the independence of the judiciary. This legal action marks the first time judges have contested their compensation in court since the establishment of an independent commission in 1999. The government maintains that judges’ current salaries and benefits are adequate and that a raise is inappropriate amid economic uncertainties.
