Bill C-51 submissions, redux
This week, the Senate’s Standing Committee on National Security and Defence continues its pre-study of Bill C-51, while an amended version of the Bill proceeds to third reading in […]
Elephants in the court
The good news first Yesterday, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down mandatory minimum sentences for crimes involving prohibited and restricted firearms in its ruling on R. v. Nur and R. v. Charles. […]
Freedom of expression and criticism of Israel
The BC Civil Liberties Association is deeply concerned about the effects on freedom of expression of recent changes to hate speech laws and the 2015 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) […]
Canada is in need of serious access to information reform
Canada’s access to information (ATI) system is in crisis. It is taxing on those who administer it, the process of obtaining information is unnecessarily lengthy and cumbersome for users and […]
A better conversation with the sick and the dying
This blog is an adaptation of the speaking notes of Hollis Johnson, one of the lead plaintiffs in the BCCLA’s historic Carter v. Canada, death with dignity case. Hollis delivered […]
Wait… there’s more!
Much of the public discussion about Bill C-51 has focused on its implications for rights to protest and dissent, and with good reason – between the proposed Security of […]
“Either you’re with us, or you are with the terrorists”
In this post, the National Security Blog breaks the fourth wall to share with our readers some observations after a morning on Parliament Hill before the House Standing Committee on […]
8 things you need to know about Bill C-51
By Alyssa Stryker, BCCLA Caseworker, and Carmen Cheung, BCCLA Senior Counsel A condensed version of this piece first appeared in The Tyee. At over 60 pages, Bill C-51 – the […]
Human rights protections for trans Canadians: no more delays!
Bill C-279, the “Gender Identity Bill,” has been hung up in the Senate since October 2013, and it looks like further delay is inevitable. Media reports indicate that the […]
Accountability now
This morning, a veritable who’s who of Canada’s leading jurists and public officials issued a powerful statement  calling for robust national security review and oversight. This case for accountability […]