Please extend a huge welcome to Meghan McDermott, BCCLA Counsel (Policy). Meghan joined the BCCLA as staff counsel in March of 2017. With a B.A. in philosophy from Concordia University, her compassion and curiosity drove her to study law at the University … Read More
Features Blog
Welcome newly elected Board Directors
Posted onPlease extend a warm welcome to our four newly elected members of the Board of Directors: Ian Bushfield Ian Bushfield is an advocate for Humanism, science and social justice living in Vancouver. He is the current and was the first … Read More
No Gag: An Update
Posted onThe Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in BC FIPA v. AGBC on January 26, 2017. We told you about this case in another blog post back in October, and you’ll recall that the issues the Court had to … Read More
Canadian jurisdictions need anti-SLAPP legislation
Posted onSLAPPs are civil lawsuits weaponized for censorship, and even cases that could not succeed on their merits can be strategically successful, since the litigation process is the punishment and not many people have the wherewithal to withstand a SLAPP.
Border rights: what you need to know
Posted onLike many of you, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my rights at the border. In light of reports that numerous Canadians have been refused entry to the United States for unclear or troubling reasons recently, not to mention … Read More
In the wake of tragedy: acting together against Islamophobia
Posted onThis weekend Canada witnessed a despicable act of terrorism perpetrated against Muslims in Canada. While individuals, including children, were praying in Quebec City’s Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec a gunman entered the space and opened fire. As a result, … Read More
Whose streets? Our streets!
Posted onHere are some quick tips from our 2014 Annual Report to help you safely exercise your right to protest. At the BCCLA we believe that the protest is a critical part of free expression and assembly rights. For individuals, the … Read More
Shut the frack up!
Posted onUpdate: This morning the decision in Jessica Ernst’s case was delivered. In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that Jessica Ernst cannot use the Charter to hold an Alberta energy regulator accountable for an alleged violation of her … Read More
National Security Accountability – Making it Real
Posted onNational security accountability – everyone says they want it. But not everyone means the same thing when they use the language of “accountability”. The dangers of ‘faux accountability’ are always serious, but especially so on national security matters where secrecy … Read More
The urgent need to end Canada’s complicity in torture — how you can help
Posted onThe government’s national security consultation Green Paper has been criticized for failing to be explicit about the human rights consequences of abuses in the national security realm. There are an overwhelming number of issues that must be responded to under … Read More
