Our second annual reporting of the best and worst defenders of civil liberties in British Columbia.
BRICKBATS:
- BC Human Rights Commission & Tribunal
the former for ordering a hearing into a sexual harassment complaint that had previously been rejected by UBC’s Equity Office, the latter for losing control of the process, then issuing a decision vastly expanding the scope of sexual harassment. - International Forest Products Limited
for applying for an injunction barring the public and the press from a large area around a disputed logging operation. - New Westminster City Council
for enacting a bylaw banning the sale of drug paraphernalia despite police advice that no problem exists, and for supporting illegal police behaviour in cracking down on the street drug trade. - Slocan Forest Products Limited
for launching a civil suit against an environmental group to punish and intimidate the group for protesting Slocan Forest Products’ practices. - The University of British Columbia for requiring a pro-life group to pay for extra security for its provocative display, and for supporting a “women only” ad.
- Vancouver Police Department
for acting beyond its legal powers to ward off feared public mayhem, and the Vancouver Police Board for its support of such police tactics.
BOUQUETS:
- All the lawyers in BC who donate their time and talents for pro bono work
Need we add why? - Association of Canadian Chiefs of Police
for recommending the decriminilization of the possession of marijuana and other controlled substances. - David Flaherty
for his years of service as BC’s Information and Privacy Commissioner, especially his outspoken criticism of privacy invasions. - The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC)
for quickly reversing its policy on criminal record checks of employees in non-sensitive positions. - Kim Bolan
the Vancouver Sun reporter, for continuing to report on Sikh extremists despite death threats. - Vancouver Police Department/Police Board
for devoting considerable resources to solving the murders of Downtown eastside women. - Vancouver/Richmond Health Board
for its creative projects for harm reduction projects in the Downtown eastside. - Victoria Public Library
for continuing its “content neutral” meetings rooms policy in the face of strong criticism.