Directive 7

Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
Director of Public Prosecutions Act
Directive

Whereas Directive 3.8 “Alternative Measures” was issued by the Attorney General on June 16, 2014, and published in the Canada Gazette on August 30, 2014, to authorize the use of alternative measures pursuant to paragraph 717(1)(a) of the Criminal Code and govern their use by federal prosecutors;

Whereas one of the fundamental principles underlying the use of alternative measures under section 717 of the Criminal Code is that criminal proceedings should be used with restraint;

Whereas the Director of Public Prosecutions requested that Directive 3.8 “Alternative Measures” be replaced by a guideline issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions pursuant to paragraph 3(3)(c) of the Director of Public Prosecutions Act to provide more flexibility to respond to legal and social changes;

Whereas this flexibility is in the public interest to address the overrepresentation of Indigenous, Black, racialized and marginalized groups in the criminal justice system;

Whereas I have consulted the Director of Public Prosecutions under subsection 10(2) of the Director of Public Prosecutions Act:

1. I direct that Directive 3.8 “Alternative Measures” of the Attorney General to the Director of Public Prosecutions issued on June 16, 2014, and published in the Canada Gazette on August 30, 2014, ceases to be in effect on the date when the Director of Public Prosecutions issues a guideline on alternative measures pursuant to paragraph 3(3)(c) of the Director of Public Prosecutions Act and publishes it on the website of the Public Prosecutions Service of Canada.

Ottawa, May 21, 2024

The Honourable Arif Virani
Attorney General of Canada