For Immediate Release

VANCOUVER – COAST SALISH TERRITORIES – On Monday, May 25, 2020, the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (“BCCLA”) will fight to ensure that the rights and civil liberties of all are taken into account at the first round of hearings of the Cullen Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia.

These initial hearings will provide an overview of the money laundering topic and regulatory models. These hearings will be held via video conferencing due to the global pandemic.

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. This perspective is crucial; the BCCLA intends to place the civil liberties and human rights of all at the forefront of this Inquiry.

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

The BCCLA’s written opening statement delivered to the Commission in February 2020 is available here.

What:  BCCLA to participate in the hearings of the Cullen Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia

When: May 25, 2020 through June 16, 2020 from 9:30 am – 1:30 pm PST

Where:  Hearings will take place via videoconferencing.  A livestream of the hearings will be available here.

Media Contacts:

• Megan Tweedie, staff counsel for the BCCLA, available for comment at 604-359-2416 or [email protected]

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