Freedom of Speech

University of Victoria reinstates banned pro-life club
Faced with a lawsuit filed in B.C. Supreme Court by a campus pro-life club – Youth Protecting Youth (YPY) – the University of Victoria Student Society has agreed to terms under which YPY has agreed to hold the lawsuit in abeyance.
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July 19, 2010

Students and BCCLA to fight censorship at U Vic
Youth Protecting Youth (YPY), a pro-life student club at the University of Victoria, has initiated a legal action against the University of Victoria Student Society in B.C. Supreme Court. The lawsuit seeks relief from a protracted campaign of censorship and discrimination against the club, in which the Student Society has deprived YPY of official club status and withdrawn its funding to punish it for expressing pro-life views..
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May 3, 2010

BCCLA opposes ban on U Vic pro-life club
The BCCLA, which has a long history of successfully fighting for the reproductive autonomy of women, condemns the attempt to silence pro-life advocacy on the University of Victoria campus.
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February 4, 2010

BCCLA opposes Quebec bill banning face veils
The BCCLA is opposing the Quebec government’s attempt to restrict the wearing of the niqab through Bill 94. Although equality rights include the right to access employment, education and health services without discrimination, the proposed law would deny women who wear a face veil access to services available to the general public.
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May 18, 2010

BCCLA complaint wants police free speech policy defined
An allegation that a Victoria Police Department police officer has been ordered not to discuss harm reduction at an upcoming drug policy conference has caused the BCCLA to file a policy complaint with the Victoria Police Board. The complaint asks the Board to define an off-duty speech policy for officers in line with Charter free speech values.
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March 2, 2010

Provincial government shuts BCCLA out of international media centre
The Provincial Government has told the BCCLA that the human rights organization’s communications are not welcome at the “International Media Centre” (IMC) during the Olympics. The refusal to distribute the BCCLA’s media release comes months after the BCCLA’s original request to communicate with the media at the IMC.
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February 10, 2010

“Free speech zone” crowded with pro-Olympic displays
The BCCLA is disappointed that the organizers of the 2010 Olympics have crowded an area designated for free speech with pro-Olympic displays, making large demonstrations practically impossible in the Olympic city.
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February 9, 2010

MPs Shouldn’t Throw Out the Civil Liberties Baby in Effort to Eliminate Anti-Semitism Racist Bathwater
BCCLA Director Tom Sandborn's essay on regulating speech laws in order to combat anti-Semitism, published in The Hill Times.
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February 1, 2010

BCCLA Condemns Violence as Protest Tactic
The BCCLA today condemned violence as a protest tactic following an incident where a PETA protester apparently threw a “tofu cream pie” hitting the federal fisheries minister squarely in the face.
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January 26, 2010

BCCLA Thanks Transit Police for Correcting Olympic Publication
The BCCLA thanked the transit police for revising an Olympic security publication that was distributed to businesses along Skytrain lines that appeared to equate free expression activities with criminal activity worthy of police investigation.
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January 25, 2010

Activists Call Off Olympic Free Speech Lawsuit
Activists backed by the BCCLA in a lawsuit to protect their free speech rights against Olympic bylaws passed by the City of Vancouver have officially withdrawn their case as a result of amendments made to the bylaw by the City of Vancouver.
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January 25, 2010

City Orders Anti-Olympic Mural Removed From Gallery
The City of Vancouver has shut down the public art space that has existed, uninterrupted since 2003, in front of the Crying Room gallery at 157 East Cordova Street following the posting of an anti-Olympic mural.
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December 11, 2009

BCCLA Endorses Report, Says Olympic Police Can Do Better
The BCCLA announced its general support for a series of recommendations issued today by the 2010 Olympic Civil Liberties Advisory Committee today, but added that the recommendations ought to go further to ensure free speech and free assembly rights are protected in and around the Winter Games venues and corridors between them.
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December 2, 2009

BCCLA Calls On VANOC To Remove Artist Contract "Propaganda Clause"
The BCCLA is calling on the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee to withdraw a clause in its artist contract that limits free expression.
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November 25, 2009

Legal Observers in Victoria for 2010 Olympic Torch Launch
The BCCLA will have five teams of legal observers present in Victoria for the launch of the Olympic torch run. The observer program is designed to ensure that security forces participating in the 2010 Olympics do not exceed their authority in securing Games venues and events, and the torch run will be their first time to take the streets.
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October 26, 2009

BCCLA Partners With UBC Students for 2010 Olympics
The BCCLA is partnering with the Student Legal Fund Society at the University of British Columbia to introduce an Olympic legal preparedness program for UBC students.
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October 22, 2009

BCCLA Demands Equal Treatment for U Vic Pro-life Club
The B.C. Civil Liberties Association is taking up the case of Youth Protecting Youth (YPY), a pro-life club at the University of Victoria.
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October 21, 2009

City Tries Delay Tactics To Stall Court Challenge on Bylaws
A press release and a letter to the B.C. Civil Liberties Association show that the City is working hard to avoid having controversial anti-free speech bylaw provisions get to Court before the Olympics. Two activists, Chris Shaw and Alissa Westergaard Thorpe, in partnership with the BCCLA, have filed a lawsuit challenging the bylaws.
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October 20, 2009

BCCLA Condemns Unlucky B.C. Government Bill 13
The BCCLA condemned the BC government’s Bill 13 proposals to allow Richmond, Whistler and Vancouver to enter residences and other private property with only 24 hours notice to remove or cover up signs during the Olympic period.
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October 9, 2009

Olympic Police Reps to Get Legal Observer Training
Both the Vancouver Police Department and the Integrated Security Unit for the 2010 Olympic Games have accepted the BCCLA’s offer to provide legal observer training to senior officers.
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October 8, 2009

BCCLA Helps Activists Sue City Over Olympic Gag Law
The BCCLA is supporting two activists in challenging the constitutionality of the City of Vancouver’s recently passed Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games By-law.
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October 7, 2009

“Trust us” Not Good Enough, BCCLA tells VANOC
A recent press release from the Vancouver Olympic Organizing committee attempting to stem a growing tide of concern over free speech rights and the Olympics isn’t good enough says the BCCLA.
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September 16, 2009

Legal Observer Teams Trained to Hit the Streets in 2010
If the BCCLA and Pivot get their way, more than 100 pairs of eyeballs will be on the streets of Vancouver during the 2010 Olympics watching for rights violations by the more than 7,000 police officers, 5,000 private security guards and 4,500 members of the Canadian armed forces.
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September 16, 2009

“We Are Not Amused” Becomes Vancouver Bylaw Standard for Punishing Free Speech
The City of Vancouver has passed a large package of new by-laws arguing that the new laws are “necessary” to facilitate the Olympic Games. The by-laws carve out extensive public zones in which the City can dictate massive security screenings and draconian curtailment of free expression. In a sorry effort to mask the rest of the by-laws' failings, Council deleted one blatantly unconstitutional provision which would have allowed the removal of signs on city streets that “promote an idea.”
Read the PDF >>
July 27, 2009

UBC Responds to BCCLA Concerns About Student Free Speech
UBC has responded to concerns raised by the BCCLA that free speech will not be welcome in student dorms during the Olympics, promising that student free speech rights will be protected during the Games.
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July 13, 2009

City Agrees With BCCLA Submissions on Noise Maker to Deter “Vagrants”, Strikes from Budget
The City of Vancouver listened carefully to the BCCLA’s and other community groups’ concerns Wednesday at City Hall and agreed to reject a proposal to install “Mosquito” noise making devices in city-owned parking lots. City Council voted to strike a $147,000 line item in the 2009 parking lot capital budget allocated to purchasing “noise maker(s) to deter vagrants from congregating in stairwells.”
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July 13, 2009

Supreme Court of Canada Rules That Transit Authorities Must Allow Political Advertising on Public Transit
The BCCLA applauds the Supreme Court of Canada decision released today in B.C. Transit v. Canadian Federation of Students. The case was a constitutional challenge to the advertising policies of Translink and BC Transit which allowed for commercial advertising but not political advertising on government-controlled public transit vehicles.
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July 10, 2009

Supreme Court of Candada to Rule in Groundbreaking Free Expression Case
The Supreme Court of Canada will render its judgement in B.C. Transit v. Canadian Federation of Students on Friday, July 10. The BCCLA appeared as an intervener in the case at the Supreme Court of Canada, and at the BC Supreme Court and BC Court of Appeal.
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July 8, 2009

Free Speech Faces Olympic-Sized Threat, says BCCLA
In the wake of UBC forbidding students from posting signs and posters on dorm buildings or in dorm windows “visible from the Thunderbird Winter Sports Centre” and VANOC urging cities to prohibit political leafleting or signs during the Olympic torch run, the BCCLA has come to the troubling conclusion that free speech is not welcome at the Olympics.
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Read more (French) >>
Read more (German) >>
July 3, 2009

CRTC Submission
The BCCLA submission in support of the proposed addition of Al Jazeera English to the lists of eligible satellite services for distribution on a digital basis.
Submission >>
June 3, 2009

BCCLA Condemns CBC Ban on Political Ads
The BCCLA condemned the CBC for its refusal to run political advertisements outside election periods. The policy came to light when the public broadcaster refused to air federal Conservative party advertisements, arguing that it has a “strict policy” against political advertisements outside election periods.
News release >>
June 4, 2009

Vanoc Torch Relay Manual
Manual >>
June 3, 2009

Governments Cannot Sue Critics for Defamation
Civil Liberties Celebrates Victory for Freedom of Expression BC Supreme Court Justice Nicole Garson granted the declaration sought by John Dixon and the BCCLA, that “the defendant City of Powell River lacks any legal basis or right to bring civil proceedings for defamation of its governing reputation…”
News release >>
March 26, 2009

BCCLA Decries Shameful Banning of British MP on “National Security Grounds”
The BCCLA iscalling on the Canadian Immigration Minister to immediately overturn the outrageous decision by the Canadian Border Services Agency to ban British MP George Galloway from Canada for his anti-war views.
News release >>
March 20, 2009

Free to Speak Campaign Takes on Unfair BC Election Law
A non-partisan coalition, ranging from the BCCLA to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, has come together to warn British Columbians that it is not just big spenders who are at risk under the new Election Act. The Election Act’s third party advertising restrictions have opened a nightmare of arbitrary enforcement, fines and possible jail sentences for individuals and small community groups who comment on public interest issues. News release >>
February 13, 2009

BCCLA Opposes Canwest’s Attempt to Loosen License Restrictions
The BCCLA has filed a submission to the CRTC opposing an application by media giant Canwest to loosen license restrictions aimed at protecting media diversity. The filing alleges that Canwest has failed to demonstrate that it has met the terms of its license and is therefore not entitled to relaxed terms and self-governance.
News release >>
Submission to CRTC >>
January 29, 2009

Freedom of Expression
The BCCLA called on Vancouver City Council to respect freedom of expression rights in light of proposed amendments to the Vancouver Charter that would fine individuals for having “illegal signs” or for leafleting in amounts as high as $10,000 per day. The amendments are related to concerns about ambush marketing during the Olympics. Read our submission to council here.
Letter to Vancouver City Council >>
January 22, 2009