News
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.
Read more >>
Read more (French) >>
Read more (German) >>
July 3, 2009
BCCLA Says Police “Body-Worn” Video Cameras Not About Police Accountability
Would you like your privacy invasion super-sized? Not only is the Victoria Police Department implementing a policy of unlawful mandatory searches for alcohol during Canada Day celebrations, they have announced they will be invading your privacy with warrantless recordings as well.
Read more >>
June 30, 2009
BCCLA Condemns Unlawful Canada Day Searches
BC Transit and the Victoria Police Department to implement a policy of unlawful mandatory searches during Canada Day celebrations.
News release >>
June 26, 2009
Security Certificate Detainee to Speak Out in VancouverAdil Charkaoui, the lead litigant in the successful constitutional challenge of Canada’s security certificate and secret trial regime at the Supreme Court of Canada is coming to Vancouver. The BCCLA, in partnership with No One Is Illegal and other local organizations will be welcoming Mr. Charkaoui to speak about his experiences at a public forum.
News release >>
June 23, 2009
BCCLA Demands Assurances RCMP Disclosing All Relevant Materials at Braidwood Inquiry
The Braidwood inquiry was thrown into an uproar today after a Department of Justice lawyer, representing the RCMP, made a late disclosure of an email exchange between two senior RCMP officers just as closing submissions were about to begin. The BCCLA is a participant at the inquiry.
News release >>
June 19, 2009
With Cell Phone Video Recovery Inconclusive, BCCLA Calls on VPD to Release Surveillance Video
Two months of effort by three different data recovery companies to recover an allegedly deleted cell phone video of a police shooting has ended in a frustratingly inconclusive result. The data recovery companies have not been able to say, one way or another, whether the video ever existed, or recover any part of the video.
News release >>
June 5, 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
BCCLA Demands Immediate Repatriation of Abousfian Abdelrazik
In light of today’s Federal Court judgment, the BCCLA demanded the immediate repatriation of a Canadian citizen who has been living in the Canadian embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, for more than a year after being detained there without charge since 2005.
News release >>
June 3, 2009
BCCLA Shares Cell Phone Video Recovery Results
The BCCLA will hold a news conference in Vancouver to announce the results of attempts to recover a cellphone video of the shooting of Michael Hubbard by Vancouver Police.
News release >>
June 3, 2009
BCCLA Launches Police News Blog
“The BCCLA is thrilled to be launching Canada’s first policing blog,” says Robert Holmes, President of the BCCLA. “We hope that by engaging and educating the community through stories we post, and also by posting articles, comments and stories by members and organizations that share our goals, we can all work together to achieve the best policing possible.”
News release >>
June 3, 2009
Decision by the Supreme Court to Dismiss Leave to Appeal Afghanistan Prisoners’ Case Puts Protection in Limbo
The decision by the Supreme Court today to dismiss leave to appeal of the case of how the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Canada’s international human rights obligations apply to the transfer of prisoners in Afghanistan is a setback for protection of prisoners everywhere.
News release >>
Amnesty Canada and BCCLA 2008 statement >>
May 21, 2009
Right to Water
Access to clean water is increasingly being seen as a human right and an civil liberties issue. The BCCLA recognizes the right to adequate supplies of clean drinking water as a human need foundational to effective participation as a democratic citizen that it deserves to be protected as both a civil liberty and a human right by legislation and policy at the municipal, provincial and national level.
BCCLA position paper >>
May 14, 2009
Abousfian Abdelrazik
BCCLA expresses concerns about the conduct of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade with respect to Abousfian Abdelrazik, a Canadian citizen who has been in de facto exile in Sudan since 2003.
Letter to Prime Minister Harper >>
May 5, 2009
BCCLA Supports May Day Call for Sex Worker Rights
The BCCLA wrote a letter to the Premier today in support of the demands of a number of Vancouver advocacy organizations for improved protection of the health and safety of sex workers and the improvement of the conditions in which they typically work.
News release >>
Letter to Premier Campbell >>
April 30, 2009
RCMP Change Policy After BCCLA Complaints
Following a series of complaints made by the BCCLA about the RCMP ending in custody death conduct investigations before the investigations were complete, the RCMP notified the BCCLA yesterday that it had changed its policy of early termination of these investigations.
News release >>
April 28, 2009
BCCLA Demands Repatriation of Khadr in Wake of Federal Court Decision
The BCCLA demanded immediate action from the Prime Minister’s office for the immediate repatriation of child-soldier Omar Khadr in wake of a Federal Court decision released today. "The Federal Court has made the only decision that could be made under the Charter,” says Robert Holmes, President of the BCCLA. “This matter is an ongoing embarrassment to the Canadian public and the Canadian government. We demand immediate action from the Prime Minister’s office to bring Mr. Khadr home.”
News release >>
Federal Court decision >>
April 23, 2009
Over 600 Days of Inaction Since Boyd Shooting by VPD
619 days have passed since animator Paul Boyd was shot by members of the Vancouver Police Department, and an investigation by the BCCLA shows that no decisions have been made on criminal charges, or even on whether or not to hold a coroner’s inquest. In addition, the VPD professional standards investigation has not even begun.
News release and backgrounder >>
Letter to Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General >>
Letter to Vancouver Police Department >>
Letter to Attorney General >>
April 22, 2009
Supreme Court of Canada Upholds Property Seizure Law
The Supreme Court of Canada released its judgment today in Chatterjee v. Attorney General of Ontario, upholding the constitutionality Ontario’s Civil Remedies Act, a law which allows the province to seize property believed to be the proceeds of crime and other unlawful activity.
News release >>
April 17, 2009
Single Transferable Vote in Referendum
The BCCLA endorses the Single Transferable Vote system, which will be considered by BC voters in the upcoming May 12 BC Electoral Referendum. The referendum will select one of two formulas to translate votes into seats in the Legislature.
News release >>
April 16, 2009
BCCLA Says Federal Government Must Bring Khadr Home
In the wake of this week’s firing and rehiring, of Omar Khadr’s American military lawyer, the BCCLA again demanded the child soldier’s repatriation. “The American military trial processes relating to Mr. Khadr have been irregular and troubled from the outset,” said Robert Holmes, President of the BCCLA. “That has been determined already by the highest courts in both the US and Canada.”
News release >>
April 8, 2009
Complaint, Coverage Leads to Policy Change and Apology
The BCCLA thanked the Chief of the Vancouver Police Department today for moving to clarify police policy around seizing cameras from the public and for apologizing in writing to a Province newspaper photographer.
News release >>
Apology from VPD Police Chief Chu >>
Standards for seizing video equipment from citizens >>
April 8, 2009
BC Government Fast-Tracks Costly
E-Health System: Unprepared and Unequipped to Safeguard Privacy Despite posing a serious threat to every British Columbian’s constitutional right to privacy, the BC Government plans to roll-out its new “eHealth” system of integrated electronic healthcare records.
News release >>
April 7,2009
BCCLA Demands Clarification of VPD Policy on Seizing Cameras
The BCCLA filed a complaint today with the Vancouver Police Board, asking them to clarify VPD policy on seizing cameras. The BCCLA says that Sunday’s allegation by a Vancouver Province photographer brings to three the number of high-profile allegations against the VPD concerning the seizure of cameras in recent memory.
News release >>
Complaint >>
April 7, 2009
Court of Appeal Refuses Attempt to Save Bill 42
The BCCLA is pleased that Mr. Justice Lowry of the BC Court of Appeal this afternoon dismissed the application of the Attorney General of BC for a stay of the order pronounced earlier this week holding that pre-campaign third election expense limits were unconstitutional.
News release >>
April 3, 2009
BCCLA Files Complaint Against CSIS For Using Torture-Derived Information
The BCCLA has filed a complaint against the Canadian Security Intelligence Service for using information it knows is derived from torture.
News release >>
Complaint >>
April 2, 2009
BCCLA Questions VPD Chief’s Distribution Of Shooting Details to VPD
The BCCLA is questioning Chief Chu’s decision to release a memo detailing information about a VPD shooting to all Vancouver Police officers. The memo, released publicly by Global TV and by Sgt. Mark Tonner in his column in the Province, allegedly details Chief Chu’s impressions of the contents of a videotape of the shooting.
News release >>
March 30, 2009
Police Complaint Commission Finds Canada Day Searches Unlawful
The Commission for Public Complaints against the RCMP has condemned the practice of mandatory and indiscriminate searches during large events. The ruling comes from a complaint made by the BCCLA about searches that took place during 2008 Canada Day celebrations in Victoria, BC.
News release >>
RCMP Report >>
Victoria Police Department Report >>
Original Letter of Complaint >>
March 30, 2009
Bill 42 Restrictions on Non-Party Election Advertising in Pre-Election Period Unconstitutional
Provisions of the Election Act of B.C. that restrict election advertising by non-parties in the 60 day period prior to calling a provincial general election are contrary to the protection provided by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
News release >>
March 27, 2009
Governments Cannot Sue Critics for Defamation - Civil Liberties Celebrates Victory for Freedom of Expression B.C. 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 Assists Shooting Victim’s Family:
Releases Photos and Statement
The BCCLA has assisted Michael Hubbard’s two daughters in finding a lawyer and releasing photos and a statement today. “It must be devastating to know that your father died due to a case of mistaken identity,” said David Eby, acting Executive Director of the BCCLA. “We are honoured to be able to assist Mr. Hubbard’s daughters in their grief to get the message out about who their father was.”
News release >>
Hubbard family statement >>
photo >>
photo >>
March 26, 2009
Smolcic to Give Videophone to Data Recovery Specialists
Adam Smolcic, the man who allegedly videotaped a police-involved shooting on Friday with his cellphone is turning the phone over to data recovery specialists this morning at 11:30 a.m. He will be accompanied by lawyer and Executive Director of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, David Eby.
News release >>
March 23, 2008
BCCLA Calls For External Force to Investigate Death of Homeless Man
The BC Civil Liberties Association called for the Vancouver Police Department to bring in an outside police agency to investigate the recent alleged Vancouver Police Department officer’s shooting of an apparently homeless man in the 500 block of Homer Street this morning.
News release >>
March 20, 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
BCCLA Congratulates VPD for Changes to Downtown Eastside Crackdown Plan
The BCCLA congratulated the Vancouver Police Department for amending their 2009 business plan to eliminate proposed targets of increasing the number of bylaw tickets issued by 20% and introducing unprecedented levels of arbitrary and unconstitutional “street checks” of the neighbourhood’s residents. The VPD confirmed at their March 18 Police Board meeting that their ticketing and street check practices had returned to “historical levels” and that language outlining the initiative had been removed from their business plan.
News release >>
March 18, 2009
BCCLA, Aboriginal Leaders, Family Members Call For Public Inquiry Into Murdered and Missing Women
A coalition of aboriginal leaders, community groups and family members brought together by the BCCLA released an open letter and a set of demands today calling for a public inquiry into the missing and murdered women of the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver and the Highway of Tears, supports for families enduring the current appeal process, and commencement of the trial for the 20 further alleged victims of Robert William Pickton.
News release >>
Letter
March 11, 2009
BCCLA Calls for Review of RCMP Actions on Taser Tests After issuing a press release saying that all Tasers tested by the RCMP had met manufacturer specifications, this week the police force released documents to the BCCLA that indicate that two of thirty tasers tested actually failed to meet those standards. In response to the revelations, the BCCLA is calling for a review of the RCMP actions on the file by the Minister of Public Safety, and for responsibility for Taser safety testing to be taken away from the RCMP.
News release >>
Letter to Minister of Public Safety >>
CEW Testing Message posted to RCMP website >>
RCMP Taser test results >>
RCMP Taser testing protocol for the X-26 >>
RCMP Taser testing protocol for the M-26 >>
December 8, 2008 RCMP media release >>
March 6, 2009
Proposed Police Act Amendments Target Watchdogs
The BCCLA blasted proposed changes to the British Columbia Police Act saying that the changes target watchdogs and limit their participation, force complainants to sit down with police officers they are complaining against, and still exempts all documents in the complaint process from Freedom of Information requests.
News release >>
March 9, 2009
BCCLA Wants Vancouver 2010 Police Out of City Hall
The BCCLA has released an open letter to the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit (ISU) asking them to stay out of City Hall for intelligence gathering purposes. A report obtained by the BCCLA indicates that three plain-clothes members of the RCMP coordinated ISU attended City Hall to gather information about individuals attending a City Council meeting to speak against municipal Olympic intiatives.
News release >>
Letter >>
February 19, 2009
Omar Khadr Military Lawyer Wins Civil Liberties Award
The BCCLA has selected U.S. Lieutenant-Commander William Kuebler as the 2009 recipient of their annual Reg Robson Award for protecting civil liberties. Two years ago, Lt.-Comm. Kuebler was appointed by the U.S. Navy to represent Canadian-citizen Omar Khadr before the U.S. military commissions at Guantanamo Bay. His advocacy continues to this day.
News release >>
February 16, 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
Concerns Expressed About VPD Business Plan
The BCCLA, the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, the Youthco Aids Society, the Asian Society for the Intervention of Aids, BC Persons With AIDS Society, the B.C. Positive Women’s Network and AIDS Vancouver issued an open letter to the Vancouver Police Department and Vancouver Police Board today outlining concerns about the 2009 VPD business plan and its potential to restrict access to basic health care for Downtown Eastside residents.
Letter >>
February 10, 2009
BCCLA Calls for Charges to be Dropped in Polygamy Cases
The BCCLA calls for charges to be dropped in the recently laid polygamy cases in Bountiful.
News release >>
February 9, 2009
Advocacy Groups Send Open Letter to VPD and Police Board
An ad hoc coalition of organizations concerned with issues of access to basic healthcare for people living with HIV, or at risk of infection from the disease, is releasing an open letter to the Vancouver Police Department concerning the VPD’s 2009 draft business plan at a press conference on Tuesday morning.
News release >>
February 9, 2009
Court Rules That Government Must Compensate Individual For Inadvertently Infringing His Charter Rights
The BCCLA applauds the BC Court of Appeal judgment released last week in Ward v. Province of British Columbia and Ward v. City of Vancouver, which holds that damages are an appropriate remedy when police or other government agents inadvertently infringe an individual’s constitutional rights.
News release >>
February 4, 2009
RCMP Report Suggests Taser Use on Nine Non-Combative Subjects
In their latest report on Taser use in Canada released last week, the RCMP appear to have acknowledged that between January and March of 2008, officers used Tasers on one cooperative individual and eight “passive resistant” individuals. RCMP policy changed in December of 2007 to restrict the use of Tasers only in situations of active resistance.
News release >>
February 3, 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
Public, Police Deserve Independent Investigation Agency
The BCCLA says that the example of the three police officers arrested early Wednesday morning is further justification for reform of the police complaints system.
News release >>
January 22, 2009
BCCLA Joins Movement to Reverse Legal Aid Cuts
The B.C. Civil Liberties Association joined the Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia, West Coast Leaf, the Western Canada Society to Access Justice and the Canadian Bar Association in condemning recent cuts to Legal Aid in the province.
News release >>
Letter to the Attorney General >>
January 20, 2009
