Department of Justice

JUDICIAL COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS COMMISSION APPOINTMENT ANNOUNCED

OTTAWA, August 2, 2001 -- The Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the appointment of Earl A. Cherniak, Q.C. of Toronto as a member of the Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission. Mr. Cherniak is the nominee of the judiciary.  This appointment is effective immediately.

Earl A. Cherniak, Q.C., received a Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1960 and is a member of the Bar of Ontario as well as the Bar of Alberta.  He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1974.

Mr. Cherniak is currently a Senior Partner with the firm of Lerner & Associates.  He is an Elected Bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada and serves as the Vice-Chair of the Professional Development and Competence Committee.  He is a member of numerous professional associations and active in a variety of charitable causes.

The Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission was established under the Judges Act to inquire at least every four years into the adequacy of the salaries and benefits of the federally appointed judiciary.  The Commission consists of three members: one is nominated by the judiciary and another by the federal Minister of Justice, and these two then nominate the third member who serves as Chairperson.

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Ref.:    

Alexander Swann
Minister's Office
(613) 992-4621