By Travis Lupick/straight.com The B.C. Civil Liberties Association has said it is troubled by the circumstances around the death of a Mexican woman who was in the custody of the Canada Border Services Agency. “We are terribly concerned by the … Read More
Media Coverage
It’s easy – perhaps too easy – for B.C. authorities to seize property worth less than $75,000
Posted onBy Sunny Dhillon/theglobeandmail.com By the time Morgan Fane’s client had received the letter from the B.C. Civil Forfeiture Office indicating his property was being seized, the deadline to respond had already passed. His $3,000 was gone. The cash was seized … Read More
Petition launched, Vancouver vigil planned after Mexican woman dies in CBSA custody
Posted onBy The Province/theprovince.com VANCOUVER — Many questions remain surrounding the death of a Mexican woman who had been held by Canada Border Services Agency at Vancouver’s airport, and the agency is revealing few answers. Lucia Vega Jimenez was taken into … Read More
Death in a holding cell; Richmond Mounties’ investigation found no criminal matter
Posted onBy Kim Pemberton/richmond-news.com Lucia Vega Jimenez was picked up by Transit police in December for not paying her fare. She was placed in a holding cell at YVR, unwatched, to await deportation. When officials later checked in on her, she … Read More
Supreme Court of Canada upholds changes to Elections Act
Posted onBy Hayley Cooper/news1130.com VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The BC Civil Liberties Association says it’s disappointed a judge has dismissed an appeal to changes to Canada’s Elections Act. Raji Mangat with the BCCLA says they were hoping the Supreme Court of Canada … Read More
Activists want to know why woman’s death in CBSA custody wasn’t made public for nearly a month
Posted onBy Jennifer Saltman/theprovince.com Police say the death of a woman who was being held by Canada Border Services Agency last month was not criminal in nature. But civil libertarians remain “extremely troubled” because news of the 42-year-old’s death was not … Read More
Amid questions over fairness, Oppal backs Civil Forfeiture Act review
Posted onBy Sunny Dhillon/theglobeandmail.com Wally Oppal was attorney-general when B.C. opened its Civil Forfeiture Office. The former judge has since left politics and returned to law, where he’s heard concerns about the fairness of the process. And, Mr. Oppal said, he … Read More
NSA rulings could help Canadian group argue case against CSEC
Posted onBy Nick Logan/globalnews.ca VANCOUVER – Two rulings on U.S. surveillance activities this week could be useful for a Canadian group seeking limits on domestic intelligence gathering. “We’re pleased that there is a process ongoing, at least in the United States, … Read More
Babies born in jail belong with moms, B.C. court says
Posted onBy CBC News Imprisoned mothers have the constitutional right to care for their newborn babies, a B.C. Supreme Court judge has ruled. The decision comes from a lawsuit brought by two former inmates on behalf of all women incarcerated in … Read More
Civil libertarians challenge Canadian spying: How to exercise your rights
Posted onBy Bob Mackin/metronews.ca The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association is awaiting the federal government’s reply to the Oct. 22-filed lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Communications Security Establishment Canada. CSEC is an ally of the U.S. National Security Agency and counterparts … Read More
