Home / MEDIA ADVISORY: BCCLA to make opening statement to Cullen Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia, urging that the civil liberties and privacy rights of everyday Canadians be taken into account  

MEDIA ADVISORY: BCCLA to make opening statement to Cullen Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia, urging that the civil liberties and privacy rights of everyday Canadians be taken into account  

For Immediate Release

VANCOUVER – From Monday, February 24, 2020 to Wednesday, February 26, 2020, the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association will be making its opening statement to the Cullen Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia, urging the Commission to ensure that the rights and liberties of everyday Canadians are taken into account in governmental and private sector efforts to combat money laundering.

The BCCLA will advocate for the protection of citizen’s rights and liberties in developing appropriate responses to money‑laundering in British Columbia. The BCCLA is supportive of efforts to combat money laundering in the province, however the recommendations proposed to date call for significant expansions of police and regulatory powers and the over‑collection, retention, and sharing of private information, without evidence demonstrating that these changes would be effective in combatting money laundering. The risk to the privacy rights and civil liberties of British Columbians is profound.

The BCCLA will bring its expertise in criminal law reform, police accountability, access to justice, due process and privacy rights to its role as a participant in the Inquiry in order to provide a much‑needed civil liberties‑based perspective to the Inquiry. This perspective is crucial; the BCCLA intends to be a voice for the citizens of the province who cannot speak for themselves before the Commission.

The BCCLA is represented by staff counsel, Megan Tweedie and Emily Lapper of the BCCLA.

The BCCLA’s written opening statement is available here.

What:  BCCLA to make opening statement to the Cullen Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia

When: February 24-26, 2020 at 9:30 am – 4:00 pm PST

The Inquiry will be conducting hearings for participants to make opening statements from Monday, January 24, 2020 through Wednesday, January 26, 2020.  The BCCLA currently anticipates that it will be presenting its opening statement on Wednesday, January 26, 2020.

Where:  Federal Court of Canada, 701 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, in Courtroom 801.

Media Contacts:

  • Megan Tweedie, staff counsel for the BCCLA, available for comment at 604-359-2416 or [email protected]
  • Emily Lapper, senior counsel for the BCCLA, available for comment at 778-370-5655 or [email protected]

CIVIL LIBERTIES CAN’T PROTECT THEMSELVES