February’s meeting will be a question and answer session on the modern reality of prosecuting drug offences and drug offenders.

Claude Richer is a Counsel with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) for the National Capital Region. As Counsel, Mr. Richer represents the Attorney General of Canada in conducting criminal prosecutions which relate to the administration of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and other federal statutes before provincial and superior courts in Ontario.  Mr. Richer’s area of practice is focused on prosecutions involving drugs, organized crime and proceeds of crime.   Prior to working for the PPSC, he worked as counsel for the RCMP Legal Services attached to the Technological Crime Section and as an Assistant Crown Attorney in Ottawa.  Mr. Richer has been a lawyer practicing in criminal law for 16 years.    

The Public Prosecution Service of Canada is a federal government organization, created on December 12, 2006. The PPSC fulfills the responsibilities of the Attorney General of Canada in the discharge of his criminal law mandate by prosecuting criminal offences under federal jurisdiction and by contributing to strengthening the criminal justice system.   The PPSC is responsible for prosecuting offences under more than 50 federal statutes and for providing prosecution-related legal advice to law enforcement agencies. Cases prosecuted by the PPSC include those involving drugs, organized crime, terrorism, tax law, money laundering and proceeds of crime, crimes against humanity and war crimes, Criminal Code offences in the territories, and a large number of federal regulatory offences.  The PPSC is an independent organization, reporting to Parliament through the Attorney General of Canada.