WHAT: BCCLA to intervene in Duncan v British Columbia (Education and Child Care) at the BC Supreme Court to stand up for school board independence, democracy, and equality 

WHEN: May 25, 2026 – June 3, 2026  

WHERE: BC Supreme Court, Victoria Law Courts 

Victoria, BC / unceded Coast Salish Territory – The BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) will present oral arguments as an intervener at the BC Supreme Court in Duncan et al v. British Columbia (Education and Child Care). This judicial review challenges three orders made by the Minister of Education and Child Care. The Minister used these orders to try to force the Greater Victoria School District (the “Board”) to reinstate a program with police officers in schools, which eventually led to her firing the Board on January 25, 2025. 

The Board argues that the order terminating them was procedurally unfair and that both the termination order and an order to appoint a Special Advisor to the Board to revise an ordered Safety Plan to include a police in schools program were made in bad faith, and beyond the legal authority of the Minister and Cabinet because the orders were not in the public interest. 

BCCLA will intervene to make two arguments. First, the Court should interpret Section 172 of the School Act — the legislation that the Minister and Cabinet claim gave them the authority to make the termination order —in a way that respects the independence of democratically-elected school boards in its policy-making functions. Second, Charter values of equality and non-discrimination should inform the interpretation of public interest with regards to the Minister’s power to issue an administrative direction to the Board, given evidence shows that policing in schools impacts the equality rights of marginalized students in the district.  

BCCLA is represented by David Wu, Declan Redman, and Hilary Mutch of Arvay Findlay LLP.