Taxpayers still shield judge from housing slowdown
Published Friday May 15th, 2009
OTTAWA - The Harper cabinet has agreed to have taxpayers protect Judge Brad Green's finances from a slowdown in the real estate market for an extended time.
Green, the former attorney general and justice minister for most of Bernard Lord's time as premier, was appointed a judge of the Court of Queen's Bench in April 2008 by the Conservative government.
The appointment to the $232,300-a-year post required him to relocate from Fredericton, where he owns a home, to Saint John.
He was entitled to a "removal allowance" under the Judges Act.
Green has vacated his Fredericton home, but "on account of unfavourable conditions in the real estate market," was unable to sell it within six months, says an order-in-council detailing cabinet's decision.
Six months is the period that Green was eligible under legislation for reimbursement of the cost of maintaining the Fredericton home while living in Saint John.
Green asked for an extension, which the legislation allows for.
Cabinet agreed to reimburse Green for the Fredericton expenses - less any rent he receives - until Aug. 13.
Green was granted another arrangement as well.
He has until Sept. 20 to sell his house in Fredericton and be eligible to be reimbursed the difference between its sale price and its fair market. The reimbursement cannot exceed 10 per cent of the fair market value, which has to be determined by two accredited property appraisers appointed by the federal justice minister.
That condition kicks in if Green can't get a sale price equal to, or greater than, the fair market value.
Green did not respond to a message left at his office.
The average residential home price in Fredericton in March was 9.2 per cent higher than in March 2008, according to the April report of the New Brunswick Real Estate Association.
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