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| May 2008 | |||
| BRAIDWOOD TASER INQUIRY: BCCLA Continues to Push for Moratorium |
Censorship on Trial: |
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The BCCLA is applying to intervene in two important free speech cases before the federal and British Columbia human rights tribunals. At issue in both cases is whether the expression of controversial, even hateful expressions can be censored by the state by tribunals that traditionally protect the value of equality by sanctioning discrimination. In the federal matter, Warman v. Marc Lemire and Freedomsite, the complaint focuses on anti-Semitic postings on a website run by Marc Lemire. In Elmasry and Habib v. Rogers Publishing Ltd., the complainants object to an article by Mark Steyn’s entitled “The Future Belongs to Islam” that was published in McLean’s magazine in 2006.
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| BCCLA Continues to Oppose Ad Restrictions in Amended Bill 42 | |||
The B.C. Civil Liberties Association is giving a failing grade to the Liberal government’s amendments to Bill 42’s third party advertising restrictions that impose limits on advertising before and during an election campaign. |
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Ontario Ombudsman and Lead Investigator Present on Best Practices for Death-in-Custody Investigations at Frank Paul Inquiry |
BCCLA Supports Prevention of Torture Act | ||
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The B.C. Civil Liberties Association is supporting the introduction of the Prevention of Torture Act by the NDP’s Dawn Black in the House of Commons. |
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| BCCLA Applauds Supreme Court of Canada in Groundbreaking Constitutional Rights Case | INSITE: Safe Injection Facility |
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The Supreme Court of Canada released a judgement today in Minister of Justice, et al. v. Omar Ahmed Khadr, unanimously deciding that Canada’s complicity in the process at Guantanamo Bay violated Canada’s binding obligation under international law. The BCCLA was an intervenor in the case. |
The BCCLA is celebrating the landmark BC Supreme Court decision granting Insite, North America's first safe injection facility, a permanent constitutional exemption from prosecution under federal drug laws. The BCCLA was an intervenor in the case. |
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| Vancouver Foundation’s Vital Signs for Metro Vancouver | |||
Help grade Metro Vancouver on a number of factors that contribute to our region's wellness and liveability. Your input will become part of Vancouver Foundation’s Vital Signs for Metro Vancouver – an annual survey of life in the region, which will help Vancouver Foundation better understand the needs of our community and influence where and what issues they fund. |
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| Calling All Civil Liberties Champions... | |||
Is your annual membership up to date? Please check your membership card expiry date or contact our office. The work of the BCCLA has never been more important or as relevant as it is today. Whether we are speaking out against the BC Government’s eHealth Bill, lobbying for the Prevention of Torture Act, or participating in the Braidwood Inquiry on the use of tasers, the Association is working every day to make sure your rights and freedoms are protected and respected. |
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| Civil Liberties Update is a summary of some of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association's recent work. The Association publishes a newsletter, The Democratic Commitment, an annual report and posts its positions, submissions, legal arguments and news releases at www.bccla.org. | |||
To unsubscribe to the Update please contact us by e-mail. |
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Executive Director, Murray Mollard made a presentation at the Braidwood Inquiry on May 23. The BCCLA believes that significant scientific uncertainty regarding the safety and deployment of Conducted Energy Weapons (CEW or Taser) and inadequate regulation of the weapon justify a moratorium at this time. The Association takes the position that if the Inquiry is of the view that CEW use should continue, it must recommend strong regulatory restrictions on training, use and reporting. 
BCCLA President Rob Holmes: “Freedom of expression is a fundamental democratic value. Citizens of a democracy should be trusted to form their own judgments about the views expressed by others, including controversial and offensive comments. The BCCLA will seek to protect basic Charter rights so that opinions on all matters, including religion, can continue to be debated freely and without fear through all media of communication.”
The BCCLA arranged for André Marin and Gareth Jones to present at the Frank Paul Inquiry. Mr. Marin is the current Ombudsman for Ontario, Mr. Jones was a lead investigator for the Special Investigations Unit from 1991 to 1998.