The Canadian Civil Liberties Association strongly opposes the bail and sentencing changes announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney (Nepean, Ont.). “There is no evidence that bail causes crime,” said Shakir Rahim, director of the Criminal Justice Program. “In fact, some of the offences the Prime Minister singled out to restrict bail by reverse onus have … Read more
Thirty-seven civil society groups are calling on the federal government to withdraw Bill C-9, warning it risks infringing on Charter-protected rights like peaceful protest and free expression. “Bill C-9 risks criminalizing peaceful protests near tens of thousands of locations in Canada,” said Anaïs Bussières McNicoll, Director of the Fundamental Freedoms Program at the Canadian Civil … Read more
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association says it is deeply concerned by findings from the federal and provincial privacy commissioners’ joint investigation into TikTok’s data practices. The investigation found the platform collected highly sensitive personal data—including health information, political opinions, and gender identity—without clear consent or transparency. “When powerful digital platforms collect sensitive data about children … Read more
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) has condemned Alberta’s plan to invoke the notwithstanding clause to uphold laws targeting trans and gender-diverse communities. “These laws are discriminatory and harmful, and only deepen the marginalization of trans and gender-diverse people who already face disproportionate barriers in schools, workplaces, and healthcare,” said CCLA Trans Rights Legal Fellow Aaden Pearson. … Read more
Claims that access to bail drives crime are false, and no government has provided evidence that shows otherwise. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association urges the federal government, with the provinces and territories, to collect standardized data as part of any bail reform. “No government currently tracks alleged reoffending by people on bail,” said Shakir Rahim, … Read more
Anaïs Bussières McNicoll, director of the fundamental freedoms program at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), issued a statement: “The [CCLA] was deeply troubled to learn that many citizens in Nunavik were reportedly prevented from voting in this week’s federal election after some polling stations failed to open or closed earlier than scheduled. CCLA welcomes Elections Canada’s decision … Read more
Shakir Rahim, director of the Criminal Justice Program, issued a statement: “The proposed use of the notwithstanding clause to overrule the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in R. v. Bissonnette would set a dangerous precedent. It is false to suggest that we can either protect the public or uphold our Charter rights and freedoms. Our system of … Read more
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will appear at the Supreme Court of Canada to defend the constitutional right of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to move freely between provinces. This case stems from the unprecedented COVID-19 travel restrictions in 2020, which prohibited Canadians from crossing provincial borders for the first time in history. The CCLA … Read more
Over 50 civil society organizations, legal experts, and advocates release an open letter calling on all federal party leaders to commit to a national public consultation on the notwithstanding clause within six months of forming a government. The signatories warn that increased use of the clause—Section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms—threatens … Read more
Anaïs Bussières McNicoll, Director of the Fundamental Freedoms program at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), issued a statement further to the release of the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC)’s ruling in the Ontario (Attorney general) v Working Families case: “The CCLA welcomes the SCC’s decision to strike down the challenged provisions of the Ontario’s … Read more
