DPAs: Legislative Amendment - Question Period

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Justice. As Nova Scotians are well aware, there is a serious issue unfolding in Ottawa focused on the independence of the Public Prosecution Service. The Ottawa Liberals seem to have a problem respecting the principle that there should be no interference in criminal prosecutions by elected officials.

Here in Nova Scotia, following the advice of the 1989 Royal Commission on the Donald Marshall, Jr., Prosecution, we adopted legislation establishing an independent Public Prosecution Service. It has worked reasonably well, but the current crisis in Ottawa has focused our attention on prosecutions of corporations and the possible use of DPAs, or deferred prosecution agreements.

I want to ask the minister whether, in light of existence of deferred prosecution agreements and in light of the difficulties his political cousins in Ottawa are having in implementing them, he is intending to amend governing legislation here to specifically address DPAs?

HON. MARK FUREY « » : I thank my colleague for the question. It gives me an opportunity to recognize the outstanding service that our Public Prosecution provides in the Province of Nova Scotia. They function totally independent of government, and I have no intentions at this time of addressing any legislation. Their service is, quite frankly, exemplary.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, I thank the minister for that answer, although I would suggest that we always need to re-examine governing legislation. We have taken the opportunity to examine the Crown Attorney Manual, which is a public document, and an admirable set of guidelines, but it's obvious that it's written in terms that contemplate the prosecutions of individuals, not of corporations.

In light of the Ottawa SNC-Lavalin mess, considering the increased frequency with which corporations may find themselves the focus of criminal investigations and prosecutions, even right here in Nova Scotia, will the minister undertake to revise the Crown Attorney Manual to include a section that specifically addresses corporate prosecutions?

MARK FUREY « » : My colleague raises a valid point. In the portfolios I have had, I have advanced many pieces of legislation and multiple other efforts within each and every department to really look at updating legislation. Mr. Speaker, in these circumstances, it would be no different, but there are no compelling circumstances at this time that necessitate that work.