Home / Media Advisory: BCCLA at Alberta Court of Appeal to Protect Benefits for Young Adults Leaving Government Care 

Media Advisory: BCCLA at Alberta Court of Appeal to Protect Benefits for Young Adults Leaving Government Care 

What: BCCLA at Alberta Court of Appeal to intervene in A.C. and J.F. v. Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Alberta to protect benefits for young adults leaving government care.

When: October 22, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. MST

Where: Alberta Court of Appeal (Edmonton, AB)

Edmonton, AB (Treaty 6 Territory) – On Thursday, October 22, 2020, the BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) will make oral arguments at the Alberta Court of Appeal in A.C. and J.F. v. Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Alberta. This case is about an Alberta law that puts young adults raised in government care at risk of losing financial and emotional benefits to help them transition to independence. A.C., one of the young adults who brought this case, fears that the loss of these benefits will force her to return to sex work and may lead her to engage in substance abuse and contemplate suicide. The Court of Appeal will determine whether it should temporarily suspend the operation of this law due to constitutional concerns.

The BCCLA will argue that the law should be suspended because it violates the rights to life, liberty, and security of the person under s. 7 of the Charter. Section 7 can protect positive socio-economic rights. The protection of positive rights is consistent with Canada’s international obligations. The Court must protect positive rights in this case because the challenged law will cause serious hardship and the young adults who will lose benefits are extremely vulnerable.

The BCCLA is represented by Joe Arvay, OC, OBC, QC of Arvay Finlay LLP and Jessica Magonet of the BCCLA.

The BCCLA’s factum is available here. 

Media Contacts:

  • Jessica Magonet, counsel for the BCCLA, at 604-359-2415 or [email protected] (available for comment in English or French)

 

CIVIL LIBERTIES CAN’T PROTECT THEMSELVES