More than 60 civil liberties, human rights, faith based and community organizations just released a statement denouncing the adoption of Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act. Signatory groups warn against the risk of peaceful protesters being criminalized through this new legislation and vow to closely monitor the bill’s implementation by law enforcement. “Parliament just adopted Bill … Read more
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association urges the House of Commons to adopt the amendments passed by the Senate to Bill C-14, Bail and Sentencing Reform Act. Shakir Rahim, director of the Criminal Justice Program, said: “Bill C-14 makes it easier to detain people presumed innocent before trial, and it will hit Indigenous, racialized, and low-income communities … Read more
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) raised concerns about Alberta’s proposed changes to its electoral boundaries process, warning they could undermine fairness and public confidence. The group says Government Motion No. 37 would allow a partisan-controlled committee to redraw the electoral map without the required public hearings. “The right to vote enshrined in Section 3 of … Read more
Howard Sapers, executive director at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, issued a statement: “Two courts have already ruled that the federal government’s use of the Emergencies Act was unlawful, yet Ottawa is still asking the country’s highest court to say otherwise. If the Supreme Court of Canada chooses to hear this case, we will proudly defend our … Read more
Anaïs Bussières McNicoll of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association issued a statement criticizing the federal government for forcing the House of Commons Justice Committee to conclude its study of Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act, warning that the process limited debate and scrutiny. The organization says the bill moved forward despite concerns raised by more … Read more
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) launched a national digital campaign today titled “21 Days to Bill 21 at the Supreme Court of Canada” ahead of the law’s hearing at the country’s top court from March 23 to 27. The organization says Quebec’s Bill 21, adopted in 2019, is discriminatory because it bars certain public sector … Read more
The Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA)’s challenge of unprecedented travel restrictions enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Court agreed with the CCLA that the interprovincial travel ban enacted by Newfoundland and Labrador infringed on mobility rights. However, the Court also found that the restrictions were justified in … Read more
The Federal Court of Appeal has delivered a victory for the rule of law by ruling in favour of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA)’s arguments in the Emergencies Act case. The Federal Court of Appeal confirmed that the federal government did not meet these thresholds when it invoked the Emergencies Act in February 2022. “While the extraordinary powers … Read more
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) issued a statement opposing Bill C-16, Protecting Victims Act, warning that the legislation would overturn nearly 40 years of Supreme Court precedent requiring a stay of proceedings as the remedy for unconstitutional trial delays. Shakir Rahim, director of the criminal justice program, said, “The federal government’s proposal to gut … Read more
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) says it strongly opposes the bail and sentencing restrictions proposed in Bill C-14, Bail and Sentencing Reform Act, calling them unconstitutional and unsupported by evidence. “It is a myth that bail is easy to obtain in Canada,” said Shakir Rahim, CCLA’s Director of the Criminal Justice Program, noting that … Read more
