Bill C-51

RECOMMENDATION

Her Excellency the Governor General recommends to the House of Commons the appropriation of public revenue under the circumstances, in the manner and for the purposes set out in a measure entitled “An Act to amend the Judges Act, the Federal Courts Act and other Acts”.

SUMMARY

This enactment amends the Judges Act to implement the federal government’s response to the report of the most recent Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission regarding salaries and benefits of federally appointed judges. Included is a mechanism to divide judicial annuities upon breakdown of the conjugal relationship.

It permits the expansion of unified family courts by authorizing the payment of salaries for additional judges. As well, it increases the number of salaries authorized for judges of provincial superior courts.

It also makes certain amendments to the Federal Courts Act, notably for the establishment of an independent committee to make recommendations on the compensation of Federal Court prothonotaries.

In addition, it makes a number of technical amendments to various other Acts in relation to courts.