Annual Report 2024-2025

Public Prosecution Service of Canada

If you would like to know more about the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC), please refer to our website and the following documents:

• Director of Public Prosecutions Act
• Public Prosecution Service of Canada Deskbook

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, represented by the Attorney General of Canada, 2025.

This document is available in multiple formats upon request.

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ISSN 1926-3791 (Online)

Letter of Transmittal

June 27, 2025

The Honourable Sean Fraser, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6

Dear Attorney General:

Pursuant to section 16(1) of the Director of Public Prosecutions Act, I am pleased to present you with the 2024-2025 Annual Report of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. The report covers the period from April 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025.

Sincerely,
George Dolhai
Director of Public Prosecutions and Deputy Attorney General of Canada

Land Acknowledgement

The PPSC acknowledges Canada as the land of the First Peoples (Nations), Métis and Inuit. We recognize that most of the land we use to live, work, and enjoy is shared in accordance with historic and contemporary treaties. Other land continues to be unceded territory.

We need to more fully appreciate that we are guests on this land and intentionally become better stewards of our surroundings.

Our commitment to truth and reconciliation is reflected in our core values. We acknowledge the historical and ongoing failure to protect the lives, values, and cultures of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. We seek to reconcile the differing values of the Canadian criminal justice system with those of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. Our aim is to build a just relationship that addresses both the over-representation of Indigenous Peoples within the criminal justice system and the high rates of violence against Indigenous Peoples, particularly Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people.

Our Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) Action Plan also commits our organization to better understanding the truth of how colonialism affects Indigenous Peoples. How it unsettled the relationship between the first stewards and the land. How it directly disrupted the relationship between Indigenous Peoples, their culture, and their relationship with each other in their families and communities. How this brought tremendous disruption to their lives leading to significant and enduring, intergenerational trauma.

Our dutiful role in reconciliation is to ensure our prosecutorial work evolves. This means that we can and must intentionally contribute to reducing the mass incarceration of marginalized groups in the criminal justice system, particularly Indigenous Peoples.

Message from the Director of Public Prosecutions

The Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) is a national institution that directly contributes to Canadian safety and sovereignty. It helps protect Canadians from complex criminal drug networks with inter-provincial and international impacts, as well as from attacks on the security and cohesion of Canadian society. The PPSC upholds the integrity of the Canadian environment, the border, and immigration policies, as well as Canada’s tax regime and its federal electoral system. During criminal investigations and prosecutions, it sustains the Canadian values of the rule of law, truth and reconciliation, and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

This past year has allowed me to consider the manner in which the PPSC is called upon to serve Canadians. While fulfilling its mandate in an impartial and independent manner, the PPSC must respond to developments beyond its control, including the ever-evolving legal landscape and change in police procedures and technologies.

Canadians look to the PPSC as an integral part of the criminal justice system to make its contribution to addressing the opioid fatality crisis. The PPSC’s roleincludes prosecuting organized crime’s involvement in the manufacturing and the distribution of increasing quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, benzodiazepines and methamphetamines. The PPSC also works to counter the gun violence linked to these activities, as well as the sophisticated use of technology by these criminals. The PPSC has prioritized identifying best practices and strategic approaches to the law to enhance the effectiveness of prosecution preparation. The organization also works to adapt to evolving judicial approaches to constitutional rights, including privacy.

Prosecutors exercise significant discretion throughout the prosecution process, including providing advice to police and investigators about the law, making bail decisions, the disclosure of investigative files, the presentation of evidence in court, and ultimately the sentence recommended to the court. The ongoing PPSC Deskbook review has focused on helping guide prosecutors in their active self-reflection in the exercise of all discretions relating to prosecutions, including challenging ourselves with respect to unconscious biases and systemic barriers to fairness.

The PPSC is able to serve Canadians through the hard work and dedication of its 1,132 employees who are committed legal, administrative, financial, human resources, information technology and corporate service professionals. Honest dialogue, ongoing development, and recognizing each person’s unique contributions is at the heart of supporting professional development. We have invested in training to foster meaningful discussions, including those that may be challenging. Our goal is to ensure that our employees are equipped to have conversations that lead to direct, constructive steps that support employees in becoming the dedicated professionals they aspire to be.

I have also been greatly assisted through regular discussions with PPSC’s five National Councils of Employees. Employees have shared with me their concerns and suggestions from their experiences as Black, Racialized, Indigenous, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, as well as employees with disabilities. These employees expect results and hold the PPSC senior leadership to account.

I am very proud of the work of all my colleagues at the PPSC. Each person contributes in a material way to the service of the public through Canada’s national prosecution service.

George Dolhai
Director of Public Prosecutions Director of Public Prosecutions and Deputy Attorney General of Canada

Table of Contents

1. About the PPSC
   • What is the Public Prosecution Service of Canada?
   • Our Mandate
   • Our Mission
   • Our Values
   • Role of the Prosecutor
   • Our Priorities
   • Our Structure
   • Our Offices
2. How do we Serve Canadians?
   • What are we doing to keep Canadians safe?
   • What are we doing to address substance use-related issues?
   • What are we doing to address the over-representation of certain groups in the criminal justice system?
   • In what Supreme Court of Canada cases were we involved?
   • How do we support the recovery of federal fines?
   • Federal-Provincial-Territorial Heads of Prosecutions Committee
   • Case Profiles
3. Awards and Achievements
   • Appointments
   • Formal Awards
4. Supporting our People
   • Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
   • Accessibility
   • Gender-Based Analysis Plus
   • Workplace Well-Being
   • Leadership Development
5. Financial Information
   • Overview
   • Prosecution Services
   • Internal Services
6. Contact Information

About the PPSC

What is the Public Prosecution Service of Canada?

The Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC), a Government of Canada organization, is a national, independent, and accountable prosecuting authority whose main objective is to carry out the constitutionally enshrined principle of the independence of the prosecution function from partisan political processes when it prosecutes cases under federal jurisdiction in a fair manner that is free from any improper influence. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is accountable to the Attorney General of Canada who may provide directions in writing to the DPP that are to be published to ensure transparency of the nonpartisan relationship. The PPSC is responsible to Parliament and to the Courts.

In this section we introduce:

• the mandate of the PPSC;
• the mission and values of the PPSC;
• the role of the prosecutor;
• current and future priorities;
• the organizational structure of the PPSC; and
• its regional offices.

Our Mandate

The PPSC is a distinct governmental organization managed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) who has the rank and status of a deputy head (deputy minister) of a department but does not report to the Clerk of the Privy Council as other deputy ministers do. Mandated by the Director of Public Prosecutions Act, the DPP is the Deputy Attorney General of Canada responsible for prosecutions. The DPP is empowered to:

• initiate and conduct federal prosecutions;
• intervene in proceedings that raise a question of public interest that may affect the conduct of prosecutionsor related investigations;
• issue guidelines to federal prosecutors;
• advise law enforcement agencies or investigative bodies on general matters relating to prosecutions and onparticular investigations that may lead to prosecutions;
• communicate with the media and the public on all matters that involve the initiation and conduct ofprosecutions;
• exercise the authority of the Attorney General of Canada in respect of private prosecutions; and
• exercise any other power or carry out any other duty or function assigned by the Attorney General of Canada that is compatible with the Office of the DPP.

Unlike in other departments and agencies, the Attorney General of Canada has no relationship with the employees of the PPSC as the authority of those fulfilling the mandate results from their delegation from the DPP. The Act also empowers the DPP to:

• initiate and conduct prosecutions under the Canada Elections Act; and
• act, when requested by the Attorney General of Canada, in matters under the Extradition Act and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act.

With the exception of Canada Elections Act matters, the Attorney General of Canada can issue a directive to the DPP about a prosecution or assume conduct of a prosecution, but must do so in writing and a corresponding notice must be published in the Canada Gazette. In turn, the DPP must inform the Attorney General of any prosecution or planned intervention that may raise important questions of general interest.

The PPSC is also responsible for administering the recovery of outstanding federal fines under the terms of an assignment issued by the Attorney General of Canada in 2007.

Our Mission

Our mission is to serve the public interest and help make Canada a safe and just society by:

• conducting prosecutions in a manner that is equitable, objective and independent, while protecting therights of every individual; and
• contributing to the change necessary to support a criminal justice system that is fair to all.

Our Values

Our values serve as a guide for expected behaviour and action for all employees at the PPSC. This is what Canadians should expect from us. In addition, every PPSC employee has a role to play in creating a work environment where every person can bring their whole self to work and feel valued and empowered to contribute.

Respect

We are committed to treating everyone equitably, with empathy, and compassion because everyone is worthy of respect.

Trust

We work to earn the trust of our colleagues and the communities we serve. We are accountable for what we say and do.

Professionalism

We use our knowledge, skills, experience, and judgment to be effective. Our humility, integrity, and wisdom are apparent in our work. We function as one team to leverage everyone’s strengths and remain flexible to adapt to change. We continuously strive to learn and seek better ways of doing our work.

Courage

We make difficult decisions informed by fairness and justice. We confront biases including our own. We stand up against injustice, harassment, and discrimination.

Equity and Inclusion

We want to contribute to a criminal justice system that truly serves the public interest. We acknowledge our past failures and are determined to eliminate systemic discrimination and the over-representation of Indigenous, First Nation, Métis, Inuit, Black, racialized, and marginalized persons in the criminal justice system. We seek to be equitable, accessible, accommodating, and inclusive by design. We are strengthened by people of diverse heritages, faiths, cultures, abilities, and cognitive functioning.

Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation

We acknowledge the historical and ongoing failure to protect the lives, values, and culture of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. We seek to reconcile the differing values of the Canadian criminal justice system with those of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. Our aim is to build a just relationship that addresses both the overrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples within the criminal justice system and the high rates of violence against Indigenous Peoples, particularly Indigenous women and girls.

Role of the Prosecutor

The mandate, mission, and values of the PPSC all come together in the role of the prosecutor within the justice system.

Prosecutors pursue justice, act in the public interest and serve as impartial representatives of justice. The only cases that should be brought to trial are those that have a reasonable prospect of conviction on the admissible evidence and that are in the public interest to prosecute. In exercising their duties, prosecutors must make decisions that are free from any personal, private or political considerations. They act above all suspicion, and exercise their discretion fairly, impartially, and in good faith. The importance of prosecutorial independence is so great that it is a constitutional principle.

Prosecutors contribute directly to the safety and security of Canadians. They play a key role in the Canadian criminal justice system by serving the truth-seeking function of criminal proceedings. The role of a prosecutor is not to seek convictions at any cost, but to put before the court all available, relevant, and admissible evidence, fairly, resolutely with all legal proofs pressed to their legitimate strength. In order to enable the court to determine the guilt or innocence of an accused, who is presumed innocent throughout the trial.

Prosecutors act separately and independently in advising investigative agencies and conducting prosecutions. Prosecutors, however, will advise the police and investigative agencies of how their decisions can be made in accordance with the law and constitutional principles and how the admissibility of the evidence they gather will be assessed as part of the decision to prosecute.

Prosecutors must always protect the integrity of the criminal justice system. They strive to make it more equitable and fairer to all. They must be vigilant in challenging biases and stereotypes. Prosecutors proactively guard against wrongful convictions or miscarriages of justice, even after a prosecution is ended.

Prosecutors must conduct themselves in accordance with the highest ethical standards. They are subject to rules of professional conduct and ethics. They are accountable to the courts and the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Our Priorities

Our mandate relates to one type of activity: fair, independent and impartial prosecutions of federal offences within the jurisdiction of the Attorney General of Canada. Each organizational priority is an integral part of achieving the greater goal.

Take Action Against Systemic Discrimination and Racism in the Criminal Justice System

We will continue to contribute to the change necessary to support a criminal justice system that is more equitable and fairer to all Canadians.

Advance Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Workplace

We will continue to build an accessible, inclusive, diverse, and equitable workplace environment where all employees can thrive.

Foster a Culture of Trust and Engagement

We will foster a culture of trust and engagement, where all employees are treated with respect, dignity, and fairness. We will also continue to promote public trust in the criminal justice system by enhancing our engagement with external stakeholders and court participants.

Modernize the Way We Work

Innovation is the way forward to building an agile workforce and a modern criminal justice system. We will continue to modernize our tools and procedures, as well as our prosecutorial policies and practices.

Our Structure

Our organizational structure, headed by the DPP and supported by corporate support services and regional offices, is shown below:

Text Version

• George Dolhai - Director of Public Prosecutions
  • Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
  • Finance and Acquisitions
  • Supreme Court Litigation Coordination
  • Internal Audit and Evaluation
  • Corporate Services
    • Administration Services
    • Agent Affairs Program
    • Communications and Parliamentary Affairs
    • Human Resources
    • National Fine Recovery Program
    • Strategic Planning and Performance Measurement
  • Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions - Carol Shirtliff-Hinds
    • Advancement Centre for Employment Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
    • Atlantic
    • British Columbia
    • Northwest Territories
    • Nunavut
    • Québec
    • Yukon
  • Headquarters Counsel Group
  • Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions - David Antonyshyn
    • Alberta
    • Manitoba
    • National Capital
    • Ontario
    • Saskatchewan

Our Offices

We have 26 offices across Canada, divided into 11 regions each focusing on local needs and priorities. Our regional offices provide advice and training to the law enforcement agencies in their regions.

We handle a broad range of federal prosecutions, namely related to federal offences relating to drugs, regulatory and economic offences, and national security offences. In the territories, we prosecute Criminal Code offences, as well as offences under all federal statutes.

In many provinces and territories, to serve smaller communities, our prosecutors travel from community to community throughout the year to provide their services for circuit court. We also retain the services of 91 law firms with 418 staff members (lawyers, paralegals, and support staff) approved to assist with prosecutions on behalf of the Federal Crown where it is impractical or otherwise not cost-effective for our prosecutors to handle prosecutions.

Text Version

• Whitehorse
• Vancouver
• Surrey
• Yellowknife
• Edmonton
• Calgary
• Saskatoon
• Regina
• Winnipeg
• Kenora
• Thunder Bay
• Iqaluit
• Brampton
• London
• Kitchener
• Toronto
• Newmarket
• Ottawa
• Montréal
• Québec City
• Moncton
• Halifax
• St. John's

How do we Serve Canadians?

In 2024-2025, we supported Canadians by conducting a wide range of prosecutorial activities. In this section we answer questions that Canadians may have about how we fulfill our mandate, including:

• What are we doing to keep Canadians safe?
• What are we doing to address substance use-related issues?
• What are we doing to address the overrepresentation of certain groups in the criminal justice system?
• In what Supreme Court of Canada cases were we involved?
• How do we support the recovery of federal fines?

What are we doing to keep Canadians safe?

In 2024-2025, we worked on 44,564 files. This includes 23,962 files opened during the year, as well as 20,602 files carried over from previous years. Overall, our prosecutors, paralegals, legal support staff, and legal agents working on behalf of the PPSC spent a total of 1,114,221 hours working on prosecution files during the year. Our prosecutors and paralegals also provided legal advice to investigative agencies, participated in various committees, both national and regional, and assisted with other important corporate work, as well as delivered or received training.

An important part of our role in the criminal justice system is to keep Canadians safe through the prosecution of:

• cases related to drug trafficking, possession, manufacturing, and importation with a focus upon the activities of criminal organizations;
• cases connected with national security;
• violations of federal statutes and regulations that protect the environment, safety, health, economic security, and general welfare of the Canadian public;
• violent crime offences in the three territories; and
• offences related to federal elections.

Text Version

Offences	Number	%
Drug	30,940	63.43%
Criminal Code	8,693	19.51%
Regulatory and Economic	4,501	10.10%
Other	390	0.88%
Territory	40	0.09%

Text Version

Region	Total	Regulatory and Economic	Drug	Criminal Code	Territory	Other
Quebec	1,184	836	155	97	0	96
Yukon	1,915	0	48	1,843	8	16
Saskatchewan	2,095	97	1,962	19	0	17
Manitoba	2,313	50	2,110	118	0	35
Nunavut	2,477	1	26	2,400	1	49
Atlantic	3,027	1,268	1,664	81	0	14
Northwest Territories	3,853	10	181	3,626	31	5
British Columbia	3,983	930	2,872	157	0	24
National CapitalFootnote 3	5,477	316	5,020	93	0	48
Alberta	5,585	665	4,840	65	0	15
Ontario	12,589	324	12,043	169	0	53

Drug Prosecutions

We are responsible for the prosecution of offences under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) across the country. Drug prosecutions represent the largest portion of our work. As Canada continues to face a national opioid death crisis caused by the distribution of fentanyl by drug traffickers, many of whom work for organized crime, our prosecutors work tirelessly to address all charges brought before our courts and to provide advice to law enforcement agencies involved in the disruption of Canada’s illicit drug supply.

The presence of fentanyl, its analogues and other synthetic opioids significantly impacts public safety. Offenders who profit commercially from the sale of substances are deserving of meaningful sentences. Just as important is the prevention of domestic production and export of these substances. We assist law enforcement to achieve these important objectives by providing critical advice to investigators about the lawfulness of their methods of investigation.

While fentanyl poses a particular threat, other drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamines, benzodiazepines, heroin and synthetic drugs continue to be part of the overall escalation of the volume of drugs. Seizures of multi-kilograms (kg) of fentanyl, 100 kg or more of cocaine, and thousands of pills of methamphetamine and benzodiazepines are no longer exceptional. Large-scale fentanyl production facilities pose a unique investigative and prosecutorial dynamic.

Enforcement efforts targeting guns and gangs have led to a significant increase in the PPSC’s workload. The activities of gangs and other organized criminal groups often revolve around drug trafficking, and firearms are inextricably part of this business. The PPSC has absorbed a 169% increase in firearms charges between 2013 and 2025.

Our resolve is steadfast. Our commitment to public service and the administration of justice is unwavering as we continue to face various demands and pressures. These include, greater file complexity, increasing volumes of disclosure and the impact of digital evidence. We are also keeping an important focus on problematic substances in remote and vulnerable communities across the country, where drug trafficking presents a significant threat. At the same time, we continue to weigh public health concerns for individuals in possession of small amounts of drugs for personal use to determine whether prosecution is necessary. Where public safety is not directly impacted, alternatives to prosecution better serves the individual and the safety of society at large.

It is important to note that when charges are laid by the police for drug offences or any federal offence, our role first involves reviewing the charges to determine if they meet the threshold to move forward with a prosecution. In 2020, we implemented a policy (PPSC Deskbook Guideline 5.13) to deal with individuals who are charged with possession of a controlled substance for personal use. This policy is premised on the fact that substance use has a significant health component and that criminal sanctions, as a primary response, have limited effectiveness. This same concept was officially included in the CDSA in 2022. As a result of both changes, the criminal prosecution of simple possession charges occurs in situations where the offending conduct puts the health or safety of others at risk.

Separating out files that do not proceed, the chart below shows the outcomes of files with charges relating to trafficking, production, importation and exportation of all drugs that do proceed to a prosecution and were completed over the last five years. Of the files with charges that are primarily stayed or withdrawn, most relate to one of the following circumstances:

1. Evidence is excluded by the Court following a hearing related to a Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom (Charter) violation committed by the investigative agencies;
2. Evidence is no longer available or is less compelling as a result of the trial process and the prosecutionthreshold of a reasonable prospect of conviction no longer exists; and/or
3. The prosecution cannot be completed within the required reasonable time according to the timeline prescribed by the Supreme Court of Canada in the case of Jordan.

In drug prosecutions, guilty pleas can occur at the conclusion of a trial but often occur after the accused is unsuccessful in excluding evidence. The hearings can relate to whether a Charter violation was committed by the police, whether the evidence will be excluded pursuant to s. 24(2) of the Charter, or whether a judicial authorization to obtain evidence, such as a search warrant or wiretap authorization was properly issued by a judge, or the constitutionality of legislation. The preparation and presentation of the evidence during pre-trial hearings can be as complex and time consuming as the trial itself would be.

Text Version

Fiscal Year	Acquittal	Charge Withdrawn / Crown Stayed	Finding of Guilt	Judicially Stayed
2020-2021	2%	21%	77%	0.5%
2021-2022	2%	22%	75%	0.5%
2022-2023	2%	22%	76%	0.5%
2023-2024	2%	21%	76%	0.5%
2024-2025	2%	22%	76%	0.5%

National Security Prosecutions

During 2024-2025, some of our most experienced prosecutors, with the support of the National Security Coordinator, provided pre-charge legal advice and other forms of legal assistance to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) as well as to local police forces in the context of investigations into national security and terrorism offences. This important part of their work helped to protect Canadians by disrupting efforts that were aimed at using violence to further political, religious, or ideological objectives.

These prosecutors also conducted numerous complex terrorism prosecutions, taking into account the physical security of Canadian society and the fundamental rights and freedoms of all Canadians.

Those who engaged in terrorist offences increasingly sought to use hate as a tool to promote, inspire, and justify targeting people because of their cultural, political or religious beliefs. At their core, these ideologies sow division by branding certain parts of our society as unworthy of respect and aimed to silence them through intimidation. The internet was a powerful tool used to legitimatize the use of deadly violence and amplify ideological messaging and recruit persons – often teenagers – to act as lone wolves. PPSC prosecutors were part of the Canadian response by application of the rule of law in courts across Canada. Those accused of such crimes were prosecuted in a manner that respected the fundamental rights and freedoms that all citizens consider essential to the well-being of Canadian society. These prosecutions sought to expose such criminal activities, and if a court was satisfied of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, then denounce and punish such destructive attacks on Canadian society.

In 2024-2025, we consented on behalf of the Attorney General of Canada to the commencement of terrorism proceedings against six individuals (including one young person). As of March 31, 2025, we had 22 national security prosecutions before the courts, which included 16 terrorism prosecutions (of which three young persons are accused), four relating to offences under the Security of Information Act, and two relating to the United Nations Act. Four of these prosecutions involve Canadians who were charged with travelling abroad to join terrorist groups and commit terrorism offences. An additional three cases are under appeal.

During this period of time, we also conducted a number of files where we sought terrorism peace bonds. A terrorism peace bond is a protection order made by a court under section 810.011 of the Criminal Code. It is used where there are reasonable grounds to fear that a person may commit a terrorism offence. Over 2024-2025, eight individuals (including four young persons) entered into terrorism peace bonds to help protect public safety, including persons who moved to and lived in regions controlled by listed terrorist entities. As of March 31, 2025, there were three additional pending applications before the courts (including two young persons) for terrorism peace bonds.

Prosecutors also addressed foreign state related activities meant to undermine Canadian security through intimidation, the theft of intellectual property, and the breach of international law.

Regulatory and Economic Prosecutions

Federal prosecutors are responsible for helping to protect the Canadian environment, land-based and fisheriesrelated habitats. They seek to maintain the integrity of the border in relation to goods and people crossing it. They also seek to uphold the principle that all persons must contribute to Canadian society through the payment of their taxes and that everyone – individuals or corporations – must compete in a fair and honest manner.

We have dedicated regulatory and economic crimes prosecutions teams across the country who prosecute offences pursuant to over 75 regulatory and economic statutes and regulations. Various regulatory prosecutions in the past year have attracted substantial public interest and media attention. Some examples include a direct indictment laid in December 2024, in British Columbia, against three companies for allegedly committing Fisheries Act offences in connection with the Mount Polley tailing pond breach, and the April 2024 conviction and sentencing of an individual in Alberta under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for charging for immigration services without the legal authorization to do so.

PPSC prosecutors often seek significant fines or jail time to denounce, deter and punish those who are convicted of committing violations of federal statutes. For example, in March 2025, fines totaling $1,069,876.47 were imposed on a company in British Columbia after a PPSC prosecution for offences under the Food and Drugs Act. This may be the highest fine awarded under that statute to date.

Prosecutors also seek to address offending conduct by proposing targeted sentencing measures to enhance public health and safety, conserve and protect Canada’s environment and borders, and discourage financial wrongdoing. The result in the Teck Coal Limited case illustrates this approach. The Government of Canada and the Ktunaxa Nation advanced a co-developed approach, announced in March 2025, to allocate $58 million in funding to deliver projects that restore, enhance, and conserve fish and fish habitat in British Columbia’s Kootenay Region, focused on benefiting Qukin ʔamakʔis (Elk Valley). The funding came from a 2021 landmark penalty paid by Teck Coal Limited to the Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund, after a successful PPSC prosecution for Fisheries Act offences.

Along with conducting prosecutions, we provide advice and support to regulatory enforcement agencies through training initiatives, bilateral meetings and policy development. We provide advice to our regulatory partners at the investigation stage and receive support from them at the trial stage. This regular collaboration with our regulatory partner promotes dialogue and improves investigations and prosecutions.

Prosecutions in Canada’s North

Less than 0.5 % of the people living in Canada live in the three territories that account for almost 40% of Canada’s land mass. The communities are spread over vast distances. Moving from east to west, none of the communities to almost all of the communities are connected by roads. The people living in the territories live through the highest rates of violent crime in Canada, particularly for sexual offences and intimate partner violence. Indigenous women and girls are disproportionately victims of these attacks. While each province has its own prosecution service that is responsible for Criminal Code offences, in the three territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut), we are the only prosecution service and therefore, we prosecute all criminal offences in these regions.

Source: Yellowknife Courthouse. Unaltered photo by CambridgeBayWeather. Available on Creative Commons Wikimedia.org. Creative Commons License.

Serving the communities that collectively speak over 15 languages and dialects, which have been the victim of systemic attempts to suppress their cultures, forced relocation and the inter-generational and sustained trauma from acts of violence requires particular capabilities. Prosecutors and Crown Witness Coordinators work directly with the victims, informing them of the court process and their rights under the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights.

In the 2016 case of R. v. Jordan, the Supreme Court of Canada created presumptive timelines to guarantee a person’s right to a trial within a reasonable time. We have taken steps in all regions to ensure that the probability of the truth-seeking function being allowed to culminate in a verdict are maximized. In the North, the increasing volume and complexity of the evidence that must be reviewed and considered, causes particular challenges.

The DPP, as Deputy Attorney General of Canada, has exercised his authority based upon individual assessments of each case to prefer a direct indictment to prevent vulnerable witnesses from having to testify twice – once at a preliminary inquiry and once at a trial. In highly traumatic cases, for example, such as those involving sexual offences, the Crown may proceed via direct indictment upon considering the age, physical or psychological health, safety and other circumstances of witnesses, including complainants. This approach was recently upheld by the Nunavut Court of Justice in the case of R. v. Quassa, where the court noted that it is good practice to consider the use of direct indictments in cases of sexual violence against children. Direct Indictments have also been granted to address potential delay.

Elections

Part of our mandate is to prosecute offences related to federal elections. Unlike other prosecutions, the DPP does not report to the Attorney General of Canada in relation to matters to Canada Elections Act offences. We conduct prosecutions on behalf of the Crown for offences under the Canada Elections Act, including those related to illegal voting, financing, foreign interference, misinformation, disinformation, and intimidation. We also conduct prosecutions under the Foreign Interference and Security of Information Act, which was amended in 2024 to create new offences focusing on foreign interference in Canadian elections.

In 2024-2025, we collaborated with the Office of the Commissioner of Canada Elections (OCCE) and the RCMP to prepare for the 2025 federal election. We worked with the OCCE and the RCMP in anticipation of potential prosecutions arising from the federal election with a particular focus on foreign interference. This work will continue in 2025-2026.

What are we doing to address substance use-related issues?

Targeting Illicit Drug Markets

The opioid overdose death crisis is a global tragedy that requires collaboration between international partners to assist with the dismantling of criminal organizations involved in the production, import and export, and distribution of fentanyl. Disrupting these activities is critical to Canada’s public safety. We use our expertise to assist law enforcement partners in this important work by providing them with advice on their investigations and, when appropriate, advocating before our courts on the lawfulness of these techniques and the admissibility of evidence.

Our prosecutors offer advice to law enforcement agencies involved in major drug enforcement investigations, the identification and dismantling of clandestine labs manufacturing deadly substances for sale to unknowing clientele, and the prevention of cross-border smuggling of controlled substances and precursor chemicals. Once arrests are made, our prosecutors work under immediate and constant pressure to move cases along without delay while navigating increasingly complex evidentiary questions. Our prosecutors and paralegals process a large amount of information, the quantity of which has grown exponentially, including body-worn camera footage, surveillance footage, digital materials, and forensic evidence, and, all of which require enormous investments of time to review and package for disclosure. As criminals turn to new and sophisticated technologyto avoid detection by law enforcement and increase profits, police must be similarly equipped with new tools lawfully used in the investigation of crimes. This is done through the assistance of our prosecutors who themselves become familiar with these measures so they can provide advice to law enforcement and inform the courts.

Stigmatization

It is well known that the stigma associated with substance use is a barrier that prevents people who use drugs from seeking help and accessing health and social services. We have taken numerous steps to change how we describe and discuss substance use, in our offices and in the court, to sensitize our employees and the public about the harmful effects of stigma.

We are continually reviewing our prosecution policies and existing guidelines to address systemic discrimination and empower our prosecutors to discontinue a prosecution where the alleged offence is better addressed as a public health concern rather than as conduct deserving of criminal sanction. Where prosecution is warranted, our prosecutors must consider diverting individuals to health and social services to receive the care and attention needed to stop further involvement in the criminal justice system.

Since August 2020, we, in consultation with health officials and the police, have moved away from prosecuting any offence related to possession of a controlled substance for personal use except in cases where the alleged offending conduct poses serious and direct harm to others, in particular children. We continue to monitor the effects of this policy, which has resulted in year-over-year reductions in the number of simple possession charges brought to us.

Drug Treatment Courts

Drug Treatment Courts (DTCs) operate to enhance public safety across Canada by reducing rates of recidivism for persons with a substance use disorder. Our prosecutors are assisting DTCs throughout the country with their important work. They are among a team of contributors that includes the court, defence counsel, police and treatment service provider who share a common objective: to end the cycle of re-offending by people who use drugs.

The number of DTCs has grown in many regions across the country. For instance, new DTCs have recently opened in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland, with still more to open in other parts of the country. Our prosecutors assist with the creation of new DTCs, the development of DTC programs, and their operations. In 2024, we revised our policies to provide greater flexibility to DTC team members to develop programs that conform to regional needs and locally available resources. The revisions also gave easier access to DTC programs for all persons who use drugs and who are charged with criminal offences through changes to eligibility criteria.

An eligible accused’s participation in a DTC program requires their consent. Application to a DTC may occur at any time throughout a prosecution, where appropriate, and no longer requires a guilty plea prior to admission. DTC team members have flexibility to design graduation criteria that move away from total abstinence, which is not a realistic goal for all persons suffering from a substance use disorder.

What are we doing to address the over-representation of certain groups in the criminal justice system?

We are improving our understanding of bias and systemic factors that bring a person before the court. We are committing to applying what we have learned to do our work and to help eliminate discrimination.

Our ongoing initiatives include:

• the review of the PPSC Deskbook; and
• noteworthy training.

PPSC Deskbook Review

The PPSC Deskbook sets out the guiding principles which all federal prosecutors, and persons acting as federal prosecutors, must follow. In 2021, the former DPP tasked our National Prosecution Policy Committee to review the Deskbook and recommend changes to any policy or practice that may contribute to discrimination, systemic racism, or over-representation of Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals in the criminal justice system. In 2024-2025, the DPP implemented changes to these guidelines:

3.18 – Judicial Interim Release

Prosecutors are required to make reasonable efforts to obtain relevant information from the accused, victims, and witnesses. They must consider the particular circumstances of the accused when deciding whether to seek detention or propose release on onerous conditions. Prosecutors must make decisions fairly in any aspect of the bail process, without being influenced by bias, discrimination, and stereotypes. This applies to all parts of the process, including cases involving reverse onus and firearms. (When this guideline was introduced, 3.19 – Bail Conditions to Address Opioid Overdoses was repealed. The guidance found within the 3.19 guideline was integrated into the revised version of 3.18.)

3.8 – Alternative Measures

This guideline replaces the Attorney General of Canada’s directive on alternative measures that was issued in 2014. This new guideline allows the DPP greater flexibility to adapt alternative measures to the evolving legal and social landscape. Alternative measures may now be used for all offences, including those with a mandatory minimum penalty, if their use is consistent with the protection of society and maintaining confidence in the administration of justice.

3.16 – Supreme Court of Canada Litigation

This guideline has been in effect since 2014 and was updated in light of changes to Supreme Court litigation practice over the last decade. The test to decide if leave to appeal should be sought, which used to be known as the “national importance” test, has been renamed the “public importance” test. This is the same test as the one applied by the Supreme Court of Canada. The guideline confirms explicitly that the assessment of the public interest in the decision to seek leave to appeal or to appeal as of right must be informed by the same policy considerations relevant to the decision to prosecute.

The PPSC Deskbook Celebrates its 10^th Anniversary

Published on September 2, 2014, to reflect changes in legislation and prosecutorial practices, the PPSC Deskbook replaced the Federal Prosecution Service Deskbook in circulation at the time.

The PPSC Deskbook is a policy manual that instructs and guides federal prosecutors and Crown agents in the exercise of prosecutorial discretion to ensure public confidence in the administration of the criminal justice system. This manual is a permanent work in progress, and improving it is a team effort. Since 2021, the National Prosecution Policy Committee has been working to update the PPSC Deskbook to remove any policy, practice, or procedure that may contribute to discrimination, systemic racism, or over-representation in the criminal justice system.

Early Deskbook Editions

A look at earlier editions can help show us how far we have come as an organization.

The Crown Counsel Policy Manual – the first edition of the modern Deskbook – was published in 1993 at a time when the PPSC was known as the Criminal Law Branch of the Department of Justice Canada. Completed over the course of 2 years, this project involved over 50 lawyers fromacross the country. It marked the first time that the operational prosecution policies of the Attorney General of Canada had been collected in one place and made publicly available.

Since this first edition, these guidelines have been the subject of two major revisions following changes to legislation and our organization. In 2000, it was published as the Federal Prosecution Service Deskbook to respond to a changing environment, where the duties imposed on Crown counsel were increasingly complex and challenging.

In 2014, it became the modern version of the PPSC Deskbook. The objective of this revision was to promote transparency and enhance public confidence in the administration of justice. It also further affirmed the PPSC’s independence from the Department of Justice since its creation in 2006.

Noteworthy Training

We held training activities to provide prosecutors with the knowledge that they need to address the overrepresentation of certain groups in the criminal justice system:

• Report on Race and Prosecutorial Decision-Making: An Analysis of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada’s British Columbia Regional Office: In November 2021, the British Columbia Office of the Human Rights Commissioner published a report titled “Equity is safer: Human rights considerations for policing reform in British Columbia” which found significant over-representation of racial minorities in the arrest data in five British Columbia (BC) regions. In response to these findings, our British Columbia Regional Office (BCRO) sought to evaluate the downstream effects of racial disparities in BC policing in the work of prosecutors. The BCRO analyzed the impact on its operations, decision-making, and the resulting effects on the criminal justice system. National and regional training sessions were held to outline the report’s findings, recommendations, and discuss the path toward more equitable prosecutions. The BCRO analyzed the, and the resulting effects on the criminal justice system. National and regional training sessions were held to outline the report’s findings, recommendations, and discuss the path toward more equitable prosecutions.

In what Supreme Court of Canada cases were we involved?

During the reporting period, we were involved in the following appeals and interventions before the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC). The submissions made on behalf of the DPP sought to apprise the SSC of the potential implications for police investigations and prosecutions of the judicial options it was considering. Commensurate with the Court's role as a Court of direction, federal prosecutors advocated for interpretations of the law that would help to ensure clarity, promote the continuation of principles and procedures which were well understood and functioning, avoid unanticipated or absurd consequences, and that promoted fair and equitable justice.

Appeals

R. v. Campbell

On December 6, 2024, the majority of the SCC dismissed the appeal by leave of the appellant’s conviction for possession for the purpose of trafficking heroin and fentanyl. Police seized a cellphone during a search incident to arrest of a known drug dealer and impersonated the drug dealer by responding to the text messages to complete a fentanyl drug transaction with the appellant. The appellant’s principal ground of appeal was that police infringed his right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure protected by section 8 of the Charter and the evidence should be excluded. The main issue on appeal was whether a person should benefit from a reasonable expectation of privacy in their text messages, and whether in the circumstances of this case the warrantless search was justified through exigent circumstances because of the nature of the drugs involved. The majority of the SCC concluded that there was a reasonable expectation of privacy in the text messages, however, the warrantless search of the messages was justified by exigent circumstances.

Mohammad Omar Ali v. His Majesty the King

This appeal as of right from Saskatchewan asked whether the trial judge erred in law by improperly assessing the appellant’s racial profiling claim and convicting the appellant of firearms, drug and proceeds of crime offences. The majority of the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal. The dissent found that the trial judge failed to grasp the proper test to determine whether the officers’ actions were affected or motivated by racial profiling and that a retrial was required to make that determination. The DPP agreed with the dissent. A motion was filed to reverse the judgment of the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal on consent pursuant to section 70 of the Supreme Court Act. On June 4, 2024, the SCC granted the motion, quashed the convictions and ordered a new trial.

Interventions

His Majesty the King v. Paul Eric Wilson

This Crown appeal by leave from the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal addresses whether the exemption from “charge or conviction” in the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act—now found in section 4.1 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act—includes immunity from arrest and, by extension, search incident to arrest. The DPP intervened to ask the Supreme Court to confirm the application of a common law safety search power under the ancillary power doctrine and to propose certain criteria which accused persons should meet to be able to invoke the limited immunity in the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act. The Court heard this appeal on January 14, 2025, and reserved judgment.

Awale Hussein v. His Majesty the King

This appeal by leave from the Ontario Court of Appeal concerns the application of the test established by the SCC in R. v. Corbett. This test circumscribes the scope of a witness examination as to previous convictions permitted under section 12 of the Canada Evidence Act by recognizing a judicial discretion to exclude or edit an accused criminal record for the purposes of assessing their testimonial credibility. The appellant sought to “recalibrate” the test and the trial judge’s exercise of discretion, and to introduce a presumption of inadmissibility of previous criminal convictions. The DPP intervened to submit that the current Corbett test is sound in principle and workable in practice. The appeal was heard on January 23, 2025, and the Court reserved judgment.

His Majesty the King v. Enrico Di Paola

This Crown appeal by leave from the Quebec Court of Appeal concerns whether evidence of facts that demonstrate an offence with which the offender was initially charged, but which is no longer pending and for which there was no verdict, is admissible as an aggravating factor for sentencing pursuant to section 725(1)(c) of the Criminal Code. The DPP intervened to argue that the bilingual interpretation of section 725(1)(c) and the Larche decision of the SCC support the argument that the section applies to charges that have been stayed or withdrawn, and that the section is an essential judicial power. The appeal was heard on February 13, 2025, and judgment was rendered from the bench. The Court allowed the appeal, set aside the judgment of the Quebec Court of Appeal, and restored the sentence imposed by the Superior Court of Quebec with reasons to follow.

His Majesty the King v. Wayne Lester Singer

This Crown appeal by leave from the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal concerns the scope of the implied licence doctrine. The Court of Appeal found that police infringed the respondent's right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure protected by section 8 of the Charter. When the police, after receiving a tip about a potential intoxicated driver in the area, walked up a driveway, observed someone who appeared to be sleeping in a running vehicle, they knocked on the window and opened the door when there was no response. The Court of Appeal reviewed a series of their previous decisions that all led to the conclusion that the implied licence doctrine was limited by the purpose of the police. The DPP intervened to argue that the implied licence doctrine should not be limited by investigative intention, to bring to light the potential implications of a narrow interpretation of the doctrine, and to provide a comparative law analysis to show that the Court’s current interpretation of the doctrine is already narrow and should not be further restricted. The Court heard this appeal on February 18, 2025, and reserved judgment.

Amari Donawa v. His Majesty the King

This appeal as of right from the Ontario Court of Appeal addresses the definition of “firearm” in section 2 of the Criminal Code. The appellant was charged with various firearm offences. When the firearm was sent for testing, the police didn’t include the magazine. In brief oral reasons, the trial judge decided that the appellant’s handgun was not proven to be a “firearm” because, according to the expert, it required special expertise, considerable time, and parts not readily available for it to be operable. He acquitted the appellant on all counts. The Court of Appeal unanimously allowed the Crown’s appeal and set aside the acquittals. In its view, the trial judge failed to consider whether the handgun, as found, was operable based on the evidence. The appellant asked the Court to interpret the definition of a “firearm” in a way that would essentially require the Crown to prove that a device is loaded with a functional magazine to be considered a firearm. The DPP intervened to argue that the appellant’s interpretation is inconsistent with a purposive interpretation of the definition of firearm and would have broad and absurd consequences for all federal gun-control legislation. On March 26, 2025, the Court dismissed the appeal from the bench. The five justices sitting for the Court substantially agreed with the decision of the Court of Appeal that the gun the police seized met the definition of a firearm.

How do we support the recovery of federal fines?

During fiscal year 2024-2025, the National Fine Recovery Program registered 5,312 accounts on recovery programs and collected $49.7 million in unpaid fines. The overall inventory of unpaid fines at the end of March 2025 contained 28,979 fines representing over $260.8 million, a decrease in value of 3.4% compared to March 2024.

Text Version

Fiscal Year	Payment Collected
2020-2021	59,121,338.76
2021-2022	58,874,050.74
2022-2023	73,446,895.87
2023-2024	70,141,918.14
2024-2025	49,687,945.23

National Fine Recovery Program

Fine Recovery Process

If the accused is found guilty or pleads guilty, the prosecutor and the accused will propose a sentence, and the judge will decide the sentence and impose it. This may include issuing a fine to the accused who was found guilty as provided by law. The accused will be informed of the time period in which the fine must be paid. If they fail to do so, they are considered in default of paying that fine. It is at this point that the role of the National Fine Recovery Program (NFRP) begins.

Stage 1: Government Programs

NFRP collaborates with other government departments to help recover unpaid federal fines. For example, the Refund Set-off program administered by the Canada Revenue Agency, allows tax refunds and eligible credits payable to individuals to be applied against debts these individuals owe to the Crown. The NFRP also works with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to manage fishing licenses for individuals who are in default of payment of a federal fine.

Stage 2: External Partners

The NFRP works with private organizations to help recover unpaid fines. Credit Bureaus give the NFRP valuable information regarding fine defaulters and private collection agencies reach out to these individuals to arrange payment.

Stage 3: Legal Procedures

On more complex and larger fines ordered against individuals and companies, the NFRP may undertake civil litigation under section 734.6 of the Criminal Code. This may include deducting money from wages and/or other income sources, seizure of bank accounts or other financial holdings, lien on properties, as well as the seizure and sale of property or assets to recover the value of unpaid fines. If these measures are unsuitable and the defaulter has no valid excuse for refusing to pay the fine, the defaulter may face jail time.

Text Version

Statutes	%
Fisheries Act	31.3%
Controlled Drugs and Substance Act	21.6%
Criminal Code	12.3%
Other	8.9%
Unknown / Multiple	8.5%
Canadian National Parks Act	6.5%
Government Property Traffic Act	3.8%
Cannabis Act	2.2%
Excise Tax Act	2.0%
Motor Vehicle Transport Act	1.7%
Income Tax Act	1.3%

Text Version

Statutes	Amounts
Competition Act	68.9M
Fisheries Act	50.9M
Excise Tax Act	42.6M
Unknown / Multiple	34.5M
Other	10.01M
Criminal Code	6.7M
Controlled Drugs and Substance Act	4.9M
Income Tax Act	4.2M
Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999	2.9M
Migratory Convention Act, 1994	2.4M
Excise Act, 2001	2.1M

Federal-Provincial-Territorial Heads of Prosecutions Committee

The Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Heads of Prosecutions Committee brings together the leaders of Canada’s prosecution services, including those of the military prosecution service. Its goal is to promote mutual assistance and co-operation on operational issues and to ensure that consistent advice and litigation in criminal matters are provided by federal and provincial prosecution services. The DPP acts as standing co-chair and the PPSC provides coordination services to the Committee.

As a national body, the Committee has become a vital component of Canada’s prosecution landscape. The Heads of Prosecutions are regularly consulted on proposed amendments to the Criminal Code and by law enforcement agencies on broad, cross-jurisdictional issues. Recent Committee discussions have included best practices and strategies for:

• handling electronic evidence frombody-worn cameras;
• appropriate exercise of prosecutorial discretion;
• addressing the over-representation in the criminal justice system of Indigenous, Black and racialized persons;
• communicating sensitive prosecution decisions involving witnesses, victims, and experts outside of Canada; and
• prioritizing the mental health and wellness of frontline prosecutors.

Case Profiles

Criminal proceedings begin with a police investigation into criminal activity. Prosecutors are responsible for assessing charges, either before charges are laid in charge review provinces (British Columbia, Quebec and New Brunswick), or after they have been laid directly by investigative agencies. At the charge assessment stage, our prosecutors review the evidence and apply the decision to prosecute test, by asking themselves:

• Does the admissible evidence demonstrate a reasonable prospect that a court would convict?
• If there is a reasonable prospect of conviction, is it in the public interest to prosecute?

If at any time in a prosecution, the charges do not meet both parts of the test, the prosecutor will end the prosecution. The role of public prosecutors in the Canadian federal criminal justice process is explained in further detail in this infographic.

Our prosecutors have the duty to be objective, independent, and dispassionate. Their role is not to seek conviction at any cost, but to put before the court all available, relevant, and admissible evidence necessary to enable the court to determine the guilt or innocence of an accused, who is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

A verdict of guilty or not guilty is rendered at the end of a trial by a judge or in the case of a judge and jury trial, by the jury. A person charged with an offence can admit their guilt (plead guilty) at any stage in the criminal proceedings, before trial and during the trial, or before the verdict is rendered. Our prosecutors work competently and diligently in preparing cases for trial, including preparing for pre-trial applications. Pre-trial applications often involve questions about the law such as constitutional challenges and admissibility of evidence. The outcome can have extensive ramifications on the prosecution case and ultimately whether or not an accused person is found innocent or guilty at trial.

Awards and Achievements

We are proud to highlight the achievements of our outstanding employees over the last year.

Appointments

In 2024-2025, we were pleased to see ten employees appointed as judges: Annie Piché (Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories), Trina Simms (Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador), François Blanchette (Court of Quebec), Edlyn Laurie (Supreme Court of British Columbia), John Macfarlane (Ontario Court of Justice), Maureen McGuire, KC (Court of King’s Bench of Alberta), Christa Reccord (Ontario Court of Justice), Andrew Brown (Provincial Court of Newfoundland and Labrador), John Walker (Supreme Court of British Columbia), and Philippe C. Legault (Court of Quebec).

Formal Awards

Achievement Award

The Achievement Award is one of the PPSC’s highest distinctions. It recognizes an individual or a team who, in performing their duties or executing a project, made an exceptional contribution in addressing the priorities of the PPSC.

The first recipient was Denis Lavoie. Denis recently retired after 40 years of dedicated service, 25 of these years with the PPSC. Throughout his career with the PPSC, Denis worked in the Atlantic Regional Office (ARO) and the Quebec Regional Office (QRO). He litigated significant matters, played essential roles on the QRO’s Economic Crime and Agent Supervision Teams, and dedicated time in the ARO to ensure that regulatory prosecution files, with a section 35^{Footnote 5} of the Constitution Act, 1982 component, were handled correctly and ethically.

The second recipient of the Achievement Award was Kelsey McNab. Kelsey is a paralegal with the Northwest Territories Regional Office and is also a member of the Sexual Violence Team (SVT) within that same office. Kelsey supported the SVT since its creation in 2022. She advanced the goals of consistency, effectiveness and prioritization of all prosecutions related to sexual violence within the territory. Kelsey also worked alongside two prosecutors to respond to the Northwest Territories’ first major 11(b) Charter litigation to grapple with the delay attributable to COVID-19. Kelsey assisted with the development of a unique methodology to calculate delays with respect to matters in the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories. She is respected by colleagues for her excellent legal mind, supportive interactions with colleagues and tireless dedication.

Prosecution Excellence Award

This award recognizes an individual prosecutor or a team of prosecutors who demonstrated a high level of commitment and dedication to the ideals of justice over a sustained period, and demonstrated excellence, professionalism, and ethical behaviour. It was presented to the following team assigned to the R. v. Veltman case in the Ontario region: Sarah Shaikh (General Counsel), Lisa Mathews (General Counsel), Renée Totman (Senior Paralegal), Ashley Ledesma (Legal Assistant), and Kim Johnson (Senior Counsel). R v. Veltman was a high-profile case because of the tragic and horrific nature of the murders and the attempt made by the accused to intimidate a part of the Canadian community. The prosecution team’s hard work, professionalism and dedication throughout this case, which occurred under an intense media spotlight, ensured justice for the victims of this horrible act of violence. The team interacted in an exemplary fashion with the surviving victim and their numerous family members engaging them with respect for what they had experienced and would experience throughout the trial and sentencing process.

Leadership Excellence Award

This award recognizes an employee who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and who has exerted a strong influence on a group, enabling them to achieve a common goal. This year, the first recipient of this award was presented to Ibrahim Akyol. Ibrahim is a Legal Support Team Leader with the Yukon Regional Office (YRO). Throughout the past year, the YRO experienced a huge shift in how it handles files. The office moved to an electronic file management system. Ibrahim assisted with laying the foundation, both by way of drafting a process and by bringing a desire and drive to see change. He has demonstrated a strong ability to listen and work with various suggestions and remain calm and positive when others felt like the goal was overwhelming or unachievable. These traits are echoed in his leadership. He fosters a strong team dynamic and encourages his staff to grow in their careers with the PPSC.

The second recipient for this award was presented to Perbeen Mann, who was the Team Leader of the British Columbia region’s Surrey office. She was recognized for her work on mobilizing employees and teams and for her ability to motivate and inspire team spirit in the workplace. She recently worked to ensure a seamless transition to virtual bail including organizing training and paring new counsel with experienced counsel during the initial transition. She also established a mentoring program to connect newer counsel with more experienced counsel at other British Columbia offices. This program was a great success that shows her commitment to the growth and development of her team.

Creativity and Innovation Award

This award recognizes an individual or a team who have contributed to the improvement of the way the organization functions and was awarded to Dawson Allurut. Dawson is an Inuit Learning and Development Pilot Project participant in the Nunavut Regional Office (NRO). He was the leader in the creation and implementation of the electronic file management process in the NRO. From the day-to-day input of the files into the system to the transition from paper to electronic files, Dawson has significantly improved the file management operations within the NRO. Further, the transition to electronic files meant that the NRO will not have to do a significant sealift order for paper every year and will not have to fly numerous 45 kg bags of files throughout the territory every week. Dawson created a process, training and has shown innovation in the face of adversity, for a game-changing evolution of file management within the region.

Workplace Excellence Award

This award recognizes an individual or a team who have promoted and contributed to the improvement of a better workplace and was presented to Jason Buccino. Jason is the Director of Workforce Solutions and Services at Headquarters in Ottawa. He demonstrated exceptional leadership in creating a respectful and inclusive workplace, promoting wellness, and championing diversity and inclusion within his teams. Jason’s dedication and commitment have a great impact on his team, making it a place where people feel valued, heard, supported, and want to work.

Administrative Professional Award

This award recognizes an individual or a team who have supported or contributed behind the scenes in ways that reflect well on the federal public service and the PPSC. It was presented to Jennifer Scott (Administrative Assistant) and Hannah Fisher (Legal Assistant), both from the National Capital Region. Jennifer and Hannah have consistently gone above and beyond in providing exceptional assistance and service to colleagues, clients, and stakeholders. They demonstrate unwavering professionalism, engagement, and initiative in every aspect of their roles.

Supporting our People

We could not fulfill our mandate without the ongoing commitment of the 1,132 people employed across the country who are working to advance our priorities. To ensure all employees are welcomed, accepted, and supported, we worked on a number of initiatives.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

As stated in our Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA) Action Plan, our EDIA Commitments are:

• To foster authentic, respectful, transparent, and accountable relationships.
• To intentionally promote, recruit, and retain employees to reflect diverse perspectives.
• To integrate an intersectional lens in our prosecutorial work.

Throughout 2024-2025, we remained focused on two broad but critical objectives:

• ensuring that we continue to mature as an equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible organization for our employees; and
• making changes to our prosecutorial practices to be an intentional contributor in reducing the mass incarceration of marginalized groups in Canada’s criminal justice system.

The Advancement Centre for EDIA continued to host quarterly meetings of the co-leads of our five National Councils of Employees (NCEs), as well as our eleven Regional EDIA Committees. Sharing information regularly with both groups, supporting their priorities, and working to alleviate their concerns, is central to building trust within the organization.

The new DPP had the opportunity to meet most of the NCE members and welcomed their feedback on areas where focus needs to be given to support the PPSC’s growth.

We invested in activities that would help advance the objectives we set out for ourselves in our EDIA action plan and marked several EDIA-related commemorative days, weeks, and months. We also worked on the following:

• continued to support the evaluation of assessment tools for bias and barriers;
• established targeted EDIA staffing goals for regions and directorates;
• contributed to the update of the Federal Prosecutor Development Program;
• continued to work with HR colleagues for access to disaggregated data for the hiring, promoting, training and development of all equity groups;
• supported work around the Canadian Human Rights Commission Action Plan;
• organized a virtual ceremony for the raising of the Progress Pride Flag with opening remarks by the DPP;
• offered support with the Mosaic Leadership Development Program;
• collaborated with the Communications group on the creation of a toolkit for religious, secular and spiritual inclusion in the workplace;
• organized an exclusive fireside chat with the Honourable Justice Kofi N. Barnes on career development and insights into diversity within the legal system;
• supported the co-developers working group in response to the Office of the Attorney General audit on Inclusion in the Workplace for Racialized Employees;
• offered coaching sessions to members of the NCE for Racialized Employees to support them in establishing the roles and responsibilities of their Council;
• offered career counselling and one-on-one mentorship sessions with Dr. Rachel Zellars to members of the NCE for Black Employees;
• organized a special presentation for the senior management team with Dr. Rachel Zellars regarding her Study on the Black Executive Community in the Federal Public Service;
• supported the National Indigenous Council of Employees in the delivery of a learning event with Susan Aglukark on the psychological and cultural impacts of rapid change in Northern Canada during the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation;
• provided several interdepartmental learning events on Self-Compassion and Neuroplasticity as well as Inclusive Leadership; and
• supported the NCE for Black Employees in the development of its Declaration for the National Council of Black Employees. The Declaration addressed the need for:
  • equal representation and leadership opportunities for Black Employees;
  • professional development and career advancement of Black Employees; and
  • improved mental health and well-being of Black Employees.

Accessibility

Accessibility remains a priority for us. During the past year, we increased collaboration with internal partners to make sure that progress continues to be seen and felt at all levels of the organization. Some of our undertakings included:

• launched and promoted the Accessibility Support Centre (ASC) for employees with a disability, an injury or an illness;
• published our second Accessibility Plan Progress Report;
• met with our Executive Council to promote the ASC and discuss the social model of disability;
• contracted the services of two coaches to assist neurodivergent employees who required support with executive functioning;
• hosted a live event during National AccessAbility Week with Dr. Rebecca Gewurtz, Associate Professor from the School of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University, on “Promising Occupational Therapy Contributions to Building Inclusive Workplaces and Supporting Workplace Accessibility”;
• hosted an event for International Day of Persons with Disabilities to promote employees with a hearing and/ or speech impairment;
• promoted the social model of disability and the GC Workplace Accessibility Passport during one-on-one meetings with managers;
• published educational information within the corporate newsletter, entitled “Accessibility Minute”, to raise awareness and increase knowledge about the types of barriers experienced by persons with a disability, as well as the nature and impact of various disabilities; and,
• continued to increase the use of plain language in reporting, announcements, and communication products.

The ASC’s vision is to offer comprehensive, high quality and personalized services to employees with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses. Managers are also focusing on fostering a respectful workplace that values employee wellbeing, inclusion and belonging. In 2024-2025, we processed 104 requests, a 50% increase from the previous year.

Gender-Based Analysis Plus

The Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) Responsibility Centre continued to offer its insights by contributing to various reports and projects over the past year.

Following the strong interest generated by the completion of the Expanding our Mindset training—an in-house program designed to enhance internal capacity in applying GBA Plus considerations to prosecutorial work, the GBA Plus Responsibility Centre is now exploring various avenues to further support prosecutors and paralegals in deepening their understanding of intersectional analysis and bias. This includes the potential integration of this training into the Federal Prosecutor Development Program to ensure that all new prosecutors acquire this critical knowledge from the outset and apply it effectively throughout the prosecutorial process.

Workplace Well-Being

Ensuring the physical and psychological safety of our employees both within and outside of the workplace is important to us. This year, efforts to create these safe environments included:

• training on Vicarious Trauma;
• training in Mental Health First Aid;
• information session on Healthy Workplace Services, including Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Informal Conflict Management Services, and the Harassment and Violence Prevention Unit;
• ongoing promotion of LifeSpeak resources and EAP newsletters; and
• building an online suite of tools and resources for managers and employees on the prevention and resolution of harassment and violence.

Leadership Development

In 2024-2025, we invested in leadership development to ensure our leaders possess the skills and competencies to achieve our mandateand to support the effectiveness of our daily operations. We have piloted three workshops involving role-plays to enhance the competencies of our leadership cadre in active listening, conflict resolution and having difficult conversations. We also trained two cohorts for the Leadership Development Program over this past year. This included six workshops and two learning labs. These were the last two cohorts, over a 3-year period, which targeted all supervisors, managers, and executives.

Employee Data

Financial Information

Overview

During fiscal year 2024-2025, Parliament allocated a net vote operating budget of $259.5 million, including $256 million for regular operations and $3.5 million specific to the collection of outstanding federal fines. Furthermore, the PPSC recovered $15.1 million from other government departments, agencies and Crown corporations for prosecution activities related to their mandates. At year-end, there was a total net spending of $254.3 million and a total carryover of $5.2 million. From that carryover, an amount of $4 million resulting from the operating budget can be spent in the next fiscal year.

Information about funding and spending is summarized in the following graph (amounts in thousands of dollars):

Text Version

Budget	Amounts
Budget Allocation	$259,449
Net Exenditures	$254,250
Surplus	$5,199

Prosecution Services

This core responsibility accounts for 84% of the PPSC’s total expenditures, mainly attributed to salaries and fees disbursed to Crown agents.

Internal Services

Administrative activities such as financial services, communications, human resources, information management, information technology, security, facilities, as well as health and safety support the core activities of our organization. These activities account for 16% of the total expenditures.

Contact Information

Headquarters

Regional Offices

Nunavut

Philippe Plourde
Chief Federal Prosecutor
Public Prosecution Service of Canada

Date modified:

2025-10-08