Information & Ethics committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair and honourable members. We have been asked by this committee to explain the role of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, the PPSC, in general terms and specifically in relation to the Canada Elections Act. Joining me from the PPSC is Don Beardall, who'

Justice committee  I would just briefly add that what ultimately led to those cases' demise was a judicial finding of a charter violation. We litigate alleged charter violations regularly and diligently before the courts. Findings that charter rights have been violated do occur, and cases get staye

Justice committee  I would briefly add that the Canadian justice system is structured in the following manner. The police, the investigators have their role to play and they play it. It is up to them to determine whether or not charges should be laid, against whom and under what circumstances. At t

Justice committee  We will request Cabinet ministers to keep them when they examine the renewal of the budgets.

Justice committee  We have various types of integrated teams in different sectors. We have integrated teams for proceeds of crime, counterfeiting, borders and financial market fraud. So there are four different types, the most recent team being the ones dealing with counterfeiting which was, I beli

Justice committee  The teams include Crown attorneys, police officers and other experts specialized in a particular sector. In the integrated teams that look after proceeds of crime, there are accountants and tax investigators assigned by Revenue Canada. In the integrated teams that deal with count