The BCCLA is suing RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki for inexcusable delays preventing the release of a civilian watchdog report into RCMP spying on Indigenous and climate advocates. In February 2014, the BCCLA filed a complaint against the RCMP contending … Read More
Legal Cases
These pages list the legal documents for the cases.
This case concerns an issue that is arising with increasing frequency in the law enforcement context: whether the power to search incident to a lawful arrest includes the authority to search the contents of cell phones. Mr. Mann was twice … Read More
The case involves Ontario’s Special Investigative Unit (SIU), the civilian agency responsible for conducting independent investigations into incidents involving the use of police force causing death or serious injury. The SIU was formed due to citizens’ concerns about having “police … Read More
This case arises from the alleged assault of Yao Wei Wu in 2010 by two members of the Vancouver Police Department. At issue is whether the Police Complaint Commissioner (“PCC”), per the Police Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 367, (the “Act”) … Read More
This case concerned the constitutionality of warrantless wiretaps conducted by police under section 184.4 of the Criminal Code. At issue was whether this emergency wiretap provision constituted an “unreasonable search and seizure” under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. … Read More
This case concerns the doctrine of issue estoppel and whether it should apply to findings of a police discipline hearing which would prohibit an individual complainant from seeking compensation from the courts for alleged police misconduct. This case raises the … Read More
This public inquiry is investigating the death of Mr. Frank Paul, a 47 year-old homeless Mi’kmaq man who died in an alley after being left there by police in December 1998. The final phase of the Frank Paul inquiry has … Read More
The BCCLA argued in the Supreme Court of Canada that the Calgary Police Services used excessive force and violated the “knock and announce” rule when its Tactical Enforcement Unit used a battering ram to break down Ms. Cornell’s door and … Read More
The Braidwood hearing and study commission was a public inquiry into the death of Robert Dziekanski. Mr. Dziekanski died after being tasered five times by an RCMP constable at the Vancouver International Airport in 2007. At the inquiry, which included … Read More
These cases concerned whether compensatory damages can be awarded for a violation of rights guaranteed in the Charter. The appeals stem from a case brought by an individual, Mr. Cameron Ward, who sought declarations that his rights under the Charter … Read More