In March 2019, West Coast LEAF submitted input as part of the consultation regarding a universal basic income in BC. We shared our analysis of the gendered dimensions of poverty and echoed the call of BC Poverty Reduction Coalition (of which we are a member) to implement a basic income framework only if it is grounded in … Read more Submission to the BC Basic Income Consultation
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
Read our 2018 Annual Report. to learn about West Coast LEAF’s work for gender justice in the 2017/2018 fiscal year. Publications
On December 6th, 2018, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women, West Coast LEAF released our 10th annual CEDAW Report Card, grading BC on nine issues impacting women’s human rights, including child protection, a new section introduced this year. The Report Card assesses BC’s record in 2018 in relation to obligations set out … Read more 2018 CEDAW Report Card
VANCOUVER – Today, West Coast LEAF released its 10th annual Report Card on the rights of women in BC. The report card shows that although BC’s grades have improved in six areas, further progress is needed for the province to satisfy its international obligations to women’s human rights. Advancements in areas such as child care are encouraging, but … Read more Release: Report card on gender equality in BC released
Case summary This is a family law case concerning the ability of courts to retroactively change a child support order after a child has reached adulthood. The parties resided together as common law spouses for four years, during which time they had a child together. After the end of the relationship, their daughter lived with … Read more Michel v Graydon [2019]
In October 2018, West Coast LEAF urged BC’s Finance Committee to make gender equality a budget priority for 2019. In particular, we highlighted the gendered dynamics of poverty and called for BC to invest in measures to promote economic security. Read our submissions. Submissions
West Coast LEAF has long been a trans-inclusive organization – to some extent. Since 2003, we have explicitly defined “women” as encompassing all those who define themselves as women, whatever their sex assignment at birth. The hard part for us in recent years has been whether and how to include people who don’t define themselves as women; … Read more The Feminist Tent
West Coast LEAF wrote to the executives of all Vancouver municipal political parties to urge them to prioritize substantive gender equality in their 2018 campaign platforms. We expressed our support of the non-partisan project Hot Pink Paper Campaign 2018 and outlined practical commitments for moving towards gender equality in Vancouver, unceded Coast Salish homeland. Read our letter. Submissions
VANCOUVER – Yesterday, the BC Court of Appeal (BCCA) released its judgment in a case about discrimination against Vancouver’s street homeless population. The Court upheld the 2012 dismissal of a human rights complaint brought on behalf of the population of homeless in downtown Vancouver. In many ways, this case is about equal access to human rights protections … Read more Release: BC Court Decision Leaves Street Homeless Vulnerable