Today, on International Human Rights Day, Canadian groups have joined together in an open letter calling on the Prime Minister to put Canada back in the global effort to end torture around the world. On the day that marks the … Read More
National Security Blog
The stuff of hope and trust – resisting the use of evidence derived from torture
Posted onLast week, Ottawa academic Hassan Diab was extradited to France. Readers of these pages will be familiar with the BCCLA’s ongoing concerns about France’s efforts to extradite him to stand trial for his alleged involvement with a bombing in Paris … Read More
BCCLA’s proposed recommendations for jury in Lucía Vega Jiménez Inquest
Posted onThe BCCLA has submitted proposed recommendations for consideration by the jury in the Coroner’s Inquest into the in-custody death of Lucía Vega Jiménez. She was being detained by the Canada Border Services Agency when she hanged herself in a detention … Read More
UN Security Council Resolution 2178
Posted onOctober 2014 Last week, as the first wave of airstrikes were being launched against ISIL (or IS, or ISIS, depending on the naming convention being used), the UN Security Council held a special session, chaired by President Barack Obama. In … Read More
13 Necessary and Proportionate Principles: The View from Canada
Posted onThis week, human rights and privacy organizations around the world are marking the first year anniversary of the International Principles on the Application of Human Rights to Communications Surveillance with a Week of Action. The Principles were launched at the … Read More
Ready for takeoff?
Posted onAn important victory in an important case south of the border last week – a federal court in Oregon struck down the US government’s redress procedure for challenging inclusion on its No Fly List, finding the current process to be … Read More
Who belongs?
Posted onOne hundred years ago today, the Komagata Maru arrived in Burrard Inlet, not far from where the BCCLA offices are in present-day Vancouver. The ship carried 376 passengers from Punjab, India. Like most of the people living in Vancouver – … Read More
Secrets, fair play, and fighting blindfolded with one hand tied behind your back
Posted on… And we’re back! The BCCLA National Security Blog’s been on sabbatical this past year, but we’re back in residence now and kicking things off with some thoughts about the Supreme Court of Canada’s judgment in Minister of Citizenship, et … Read More
S7: The Combating Terrorism Act Strips Away Vital Protections
Posted onOn April 24, 2013 Parliament passed Bill S-7, known as the Combating Terrorism Act. With this action, Parliament stripped away vital protections for citizens in favour of unnecessary and ineffective measures to confront terrorism. This act unjustifiably expands the scope … Read More
Silver Linings: The Supreme Court of Canada Rules on the Definition of Terrorist Activity
Posted onToday, the Supreme Court of Canada delivered its decisions in R. v. Khawaja, United States v. Nadarajah, and United States v. Sriskandarajah. These companion cases deal with the constitutionality of the definition of “terrorist activity” and its operation throughout the … Read More
