Evidence of meeting #110 for Justice and Human Rights in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was prosecutions.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

George Dolhai  Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions

9:05 a.m.

Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions

George Dolhai

What we'll bring to the table is that we'll build on what we've done. We've done training with respect to indigenous issues; across all of our regional offices but one, it has been completed. We've done over 14 or 15 sessions. There are four very, very comprehensive modules that go from history to individual trauma and how you deal with trauma, to preparing Gladue reports.

However, specifically beyond that, it seems that it's an intractable problem of overrepresentation. I am of the view that we need to consider whether or not we need to provide even further specific guidance to our prosecutors as to how they approach it. We cannot have, year over year, the same statistics being presented. It is not a question of good intentions; it has to be a question of results. Some of the tools I have are to determine whether or not we need to be even more directive with respect to what our expectations are.

9:10 a.m.

NDP

Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC

Thank you.

9:10 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab

Thank you very much.

This concludes the questions from our colleagues, the members of Parliament.

Mr. Dolhai, thank you very much for appearing before us. You have a wealth of experience at the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. As a former justice minister in Nova Scotia myself, I appreciate the questions and your response with respect to the importance of your relationship with the Attorney General and with regard to the independence—and also the relationship that you would have with the provinces and territories and the training that is offered in communications.

Allow me now, committee, to ask you this: Is it agreed that we report to the House that the committee is in agreement with the proposed nomination of Mr. George Dolhai?

9:10 a.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

9:10 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab

Thank you very much.

Congratulations.

9:10 a.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear!

9:10 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab

I will now suspend for a few minutes in order to excuse our witness.

We will continue in camera for our drafting instructions to our analyst.

[Proceedings continue in camera]