Ontario associate judges get salary tied to Superior Court pay, higher expense cap, and expanded mental health benefits

Plain-language summary · AI-assisted · not legal advice

The regulation is restructured so that associate judges' salaries are no longer set as fixed dollar amounts but are instead expressed as a percentage of what a Superior Court Judge earns — rising from 80.2% to ultimately 85% from 2027 onward. The professional development expense reimbursement cap (excluding legal education) increases from $3,750 to $6,000 per year for expenses incurred from April 2025 onward, and partial-year service is now explicitly pro-rated. Mental health coverage is expanded: from April 2025, psychotherapists are added as covered practitioners alongside psychologists and MSW holders, and the reimbursement rate doubles to $80 per half-hour up to an annual maximum of $1,600. Post-retirement health and dental benefits are now defined by reference to a named legacy post-retirement benefits plan and a related Order in Council, and the pension definition is broadened to include the Public Service Pension Plan Retirement Compensation Arrangement Trust Fund. Associate judges and those involved in their administration and compensation planning should review the updated salary schedule, expense policies, and benefits framework.

Who this affects: Ontario associate judges · retired associate judges and case management masters · surviving spouses and dependants of eligible persons · Ontario court administration