An independent body is calling on Ottawa to boost the salaries of the 1,200 judges who sit on federal courts by $28,000 to $36,000 a year, saying the raise is required to ensure that top private-sector lawyers keep applying for judicial appointments.

While its conclusions are not binding, the Compensation and Benefits Commission is the central player in an independent process that sets the salaries of the judges who sit on superior courts, the Federal Court and the Supreme Court of Canada, among others.

"The Commission has concluded the current salary and benefits paid to judges are inadequate," the commission says in a newly released report. "An appropriate increase to the current judges' salary is required to ensure that more outstanding candidates are not discouraged from seeking judi

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