VANCOUVER – The B.C. Supreme Court has ordered the provincial government hand over a cabinet briefing document central in a pay dispute with B.C.’s provincial court judges.
The argument erupted last May when the legislature rejected seven of 15 recommendations, including a pay raise, made by an independent commission known as the Judges Compensation Committee.
In October, the Provincial Court Judges Association challenged that decision, launching an action in the B.C. Supreme Court.
As part of its challenge, the association sought a briefing document used by cabinet members in coming to a decision.
Judge Malcolm Macaulay says because of the “inherently political decisions” that are a part of setting judges’ income, transparency is required and the government must hand over the document.
Cabinet documents are normally privileged, and the association’s legal counsel Bruce Elwood says it’s unusual for cabinet to disclose any documents.
The Provincial Court Judges Association is asking the B.C. Supreme Court to overturn a decision by the legislature last May to not give judges a pay raise.
But a B.C. Supreme Court judge has now ordered the province’s attorney general to hand over documents that cabinet members used in making that decision.
Local news from metronews.ca/vancouver
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