Backgrounder: Brian Saunders

Mr. Brian Saunders began his career with the Department of Justice Canada in 1978. He held various positions within the Department, including Assistant Deputy Attorney General (Criminal Law), Assistant Deputy Attorney General (Citizenship, Immigration and Public Safety) and Senior General Counsel and Director General of the Ottawa Civil Litigation Section.

The process for selecting and appointing a Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) began in early 2007 with a national, public advertisement of the position. Consultations were also undertaken with provincial and territorial attorneys general, provincial heads of prosecutions, senior government officials and senior members of the legal profession. Twenty-four (24) applications were received. Of these, eight candidates were identified as individuals having the required qualifications for the DPP position.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Selection Committee, composed of representatives from each political party recognized in the House of Commons, a member of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, the Deputy Minister of Justice Canada, the Associate Deputy Minister of Public Safety Canada and a member of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, assessed the eight candidates for the position and recommended three to the Minister of Justice. Under the terms or the legislation, the Minister of Justice is required to select the candidate whom he considers most suitable for the position, and to make a recommendation to Parliament. The nomination will be referred to the appropriate parliamentary committee for its consideration.

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Department of Justice Canada
February 2008