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Release: They didn’t stop us: Legal aid constitutional challenge going full steam ahead

23/08/2019Access to justice, Family well-being Press

VANCOUVER – Today, the Supreme Court of British Columbia ruled that West Coast LEAF’s case seeking to increase access to justice for women and others fleeing abuse or violent relationships can go ahead. The rights group brought the case in 2017, arguing that the Provincial government and the Legal Services Society (“LSS”) have failed to … Read more Release: They didn’t stop us: Legal aid constitutional challenge going full steam ahead

Release: Community groups disappointed provincial mental health and addictions strategy neglects law

28/06/2019Criminalization, Healthcare Press

VANCOUVER – Community groups joined together to express disappointment in “A Pathway to Hope” – the provincial mental health and addictions strategy announced yesterday by the Premier and the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. The strategy sets a 10-year course for transforming the BC mental health and addictions system with new investments in mental … Read more Release: Community groups disappointed provincial mental health and addictions strategy neglects law

Release: BC’s highest court affirms that Canada’s solitary confinement laws violate rights

24/06/2019Criminalization Press

VANCOUVER – Today, the BC Court of Appeal released its judgment in the challenge to Canada’s solitary confinement laws brought by the BC Civil Liberties Association and the John Howard Society of Canada. In a unanimous decision, the Court of Appeal held that the law—which allows prolonged and indefinite solitary confinement—unjustifiably deprives prisoners of their rights to life, liberty, … Read more Release: BC’s highest court affirms that Canada’s solitary confinement laws violate rights

A mixtape to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day

19/06/2019Access to justice, Criminalization, Economic security, Family well-being, Gender-based violence, Healthcare Update

“My people will sleep for one hundred years, but when they awake, it will be the artists who give them their spirit back.”- Louis Riel The above quote from Metis leader Louis Riel has been resonating with me, as I reflect on the incredible richness of the Indigenous arts scene across Turtle Island (North America) and … Read more A mixtape to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day

Celebrating 20 Years of Youth-to-Youth Legal Education

09/06/2019Access to justice, Criminalization, Economic security, Family well-being, Gender-based violence, Healthcare Update

One of the ways that West Coast LEAF uses the law as a tool for social change is through public legal education. Our public legal education program encourages people to think critically about the law and society, and to understand and exercise their legal rights. For the last 20 years, part of the way we conduct our … Read more Celebrating 20 Years of Youth-to-Youth Legal Education

Release: BC Court of Appeal to hear case about who can challenge laws under the Charter

30/05/2019Access to justice Press

VANCOUVER – Tomorrow, the BC Court of Appeal is hearing an appeal about the ability of public interest organizations to challenge laws that may violate the constitutional rights of marginalized groups, when these groups are not in a position to bring forward their own legal challenges. This case, called Council of Canadians with Disabilities v British … Read more Release: BC Court of Appeal to hear case about who can challenge laws under the Charter

Release: BC Human Rights Tribunal: Hate speech on the basis of gender identity prohibited

27/03/2019Gender-based violence Press

Today, the BC Human Rights Tribunal (“BCHRT”) released its decision on a complaint arising under the BC Human Rights Code’s (“the Code”) prohibition against discriminatory publications. The case, Oger v Whatcott, was heard in December 2018. The BCHRT found in favour of the complainant that Mr. Whatcott violated s. 7 of the Code and engaged in hate speech. In … Read more Release: BC Human Rights Tribunal: Hate speech on the basis of gender identity prohibited

Release: Advocacy group: Government is wrong to stand in the way of legal aid challenge

25/02/2019Access to justice, Family well-being Press

This morning, West Coast LEAF is at the BC Supreme Court to defend our case against the Province of BC (“The Province”) and the Legal Services Society (“LSS”) for their failure to provide adequate family law legal aid for women fleeing violent relationships. West Coast LEAF brought the case on behalf of the Centre for Family Equity (CFE), … Read more Release: Advocacy group: Government is wrong to stand in the way of legal aid challenge

Kids’ books for social justice: learning and unlearning

20/02/2019Family well-being Update

“As a parent of a young child, I find that there are two kinds of opportunities for learning about social justice with kids. The first are the learning moments when an opportunity arises to talk to my kid about the impacts of discrimination and injustice—for example, talking about why we wear orange shirts on Orange Shirt … Read more Kids’ books for social justice: learning and unlearning

Release: Budget 2019 brings welcome improvements in benefits but falls short on legal aid

19/02/2019Access to justice, Economic security, Family well-being Press

VICTORIA – Today, the provincial government released Budget 2019. The budget takes important steps towards addressing poverty in the province. The budget also leaves disappointing gaps in services that will disproportionately impact women and other people impacted by gender-based discrimination. “This budget indicates political will to address poverty and implements some important measures to address … Read more Release: Budget 2019 brings welcome improvements in benefits but falls short on legal aid