The deal will impact 126 Crown attorneys across the province
Nova Scotia has reached a four-year agreement with the provincial Crown Attorneys' Association, providing salary increases, classification adjustments, and hiring process improvements for 126 Crown attorneys.
The contract runs from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2027. Justice Minister Becky Druhan acknowledged the contributions of Crown attorneys and the collaborative approach taken in negotiations. She expressed appreciation for the work of the negotiating teams and the attorneys themselves, stating that discussions were conducted in good faith and resulted in a positive outcome.
The agreement includes economic increases over four years, beginning with a three percent increase on April 1, 2023, followed by a 0.5 percent increase on March 31, 2024. Additional increases include another three percent on April 1, 2024, and two percent increases on April 1, 2025, and April 1, 2026. Alongside salary adjustments, the contract includes a classification adjustment for all Crown attorneys and changes to on-call compensation. The province removed the restricted senior Crown counsel classification and enhanced language on equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. The agreement also introduced efficiencies to the hiring process.
Brian Cox, president of the Nova Scotia Crown Attorneys' Association, welcomed the agreement and described it as an investment in the province's justice system. "On behalf of all Nova Scotia's Crown attorneys, who work every day to ensure justice for vulnerable victims of crime, I want to extend our appreciation to the Province for its commitment to recruiting and retaining the dedicated professionals Nova Scotians deserve," Cox said in a press release.
Cox emphasized the role of Crown attorneys in seeking justice for vulnerable crime victims and expressed gratitude to the province for its commitment to recruiting and retaining legal professionals.
The agreement is one of more than 300 collective bargaining settlements in Nova Scotia since 2021. A conciliator supported the negotiation process, helping to facilitate discussions and reach a resolution. This settlement is expected to provide stability for the province's prosecution services over the next four years.