In an important victory for survivors of family violence, the Supreme Court of Canada released a decision in Barendregt v Grebliunas that will have far-reaching impacts on how the courts identify family violence, protect survivors, and ensure the best interests of children. We’re thrilled that the Court adopted many of our arguments that we set out alongside our friends … Read more Victory for survivors of family violence
Earlier this week, we were at BC’s 2022 Budget presentation in Victoria on the unceded Coast Salish homelands of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. While West Coast LEAF welcomes BC’s announcement that it will reverse cuts that were made in 2002 and provide core funding to community-based sexual assault response organizations, Budget 2022 fails to … Read more BC’s Budget 2022 fails to take bold action on gender-based violence
Budget Day is fast approaching in BC, and one thing is clear: the 2022 Budget cannot be a return to the status quo. This is chance for BC to action commitments to gender equity, so that we may reimagine what is possible instead of returning to what was. It’s a historic opportunity to learn lessons … Read more Budget 2022 – What’s at Stake?
For Immediate Release – February 22, 2022 VICTORIA (Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ territories) – Today, the provincial government released Budget 2022. While West Coast LEAF welcomes the government’s commitment to providing core funding to community-based sexual assault response organizations, Budget 2022 fails to reverse other damaging services cuts that have undermined survivors of gender-based violence in B.C. Budget … Read more Release: BC Budget 2022 fails to take bold action on gender-based violence
Over the last two days, we have been at the Supreme Court of Canada intervening in Council of Canadians with Disabilities v British Columbia – a case that will have a major impact on the ability of public interest organizations to bring legal cases on behalf of marginalized communities. We intervened to argue that organizations like West … Read more We’re back in court to defend access to justice
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Read our 2021 Annual Report to learn about West Coast LEAF’s work for gender justice in the 2020/2021 fiscal year. Publications
We’re headed to the Supreme Court of Canada tomorrow for a case that will affect how courts identify family violence, protect survivors, and ensure the best interests of children. Barendregt v Grebliunas is about when and how an appeal court can consider new information when deciding a family law appeal. However, it also raises concerns about whether … Read more Breaking: We’re back at the Supreme Court of Canada!
Case summary This case is about when and how an appeal court can consider new information when deciding an appeal of a family law decision. From a bigger picture perspective, it is also about how deferential (respectful) appeal courts should be towards factual findings by trial judges, including findings of family violence. The parties in … Read more Barendregt v Grebliunas [2021]
In 2020-2021, we undertook an in-depth analysis of public legal education and information, exploring how to facilitate learning about the law…