Case summary This reference required the Court to determine whether s.293 of the Criminal Code (the “Polygamy Provision”) is constitutional, including whether the provision can be interpreted to ensure that it is constitutionally valid. West Coast LEAF had a demonstrable historical and current interest in the practice of polygamy, in particular, in Bountiful, BC, and in the … Read more Polygamy Reference [2010]
Case summary In November 2010, West Coast LEAF submitted its formal application to be a part of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry, set up to investigate the disappearance and murder of dozens of women from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and along the Highway of Tears in Northern BC. West Coast LEAF committed to working in coalition with … Read more Missing Women Commission of Inquiry [2010]
Case summary In April 2011, the Supreme Court of Canada decided to grant the federal Attorney-General’s application for leave to appeal the ruling of the BC Court of Appeal in SWUAV v Canada. West Coast LEAF sought leave to intervene in the case in coalition with ARCH Disability Law Centre and Justice for Children and Youth. The case involves an … Read more SWUAV v Canada [2010]
Read our 2009 Annual Report to learn about West Coast LEAF’s work for gender justice in the 2008/2009 fiscal year. Publications
Case summary Rick v Brandsema is a BC family law case in which the parties entered a separation agreement that left Mr. Brandsema with substantially more assets than Ms. Rick after 27 years of marriage. Ms. Rick suffered mental health challenges when the agreement was signed and identified herself as a survivor of domestic violence. West … Read more Rick v Brandsema [2009]
West Coast LEAF and Rise Women’s Legal Centre reviewed Bill 27, the Money Judgment Enforcement Act for its potential impacts on survivors of family violence and family law litigants. We are urging the Attorney General to consider these observations: While there are positive changes being proposed in Bill-27, our review has found some areas where … Read more Submissions on Bill 27: the Money Judgment Enforcement Act
Read our 2008 Annual Report to learn about West Coast LEAF’s work for gender justice in the 2007/2008 fiscal year. Publications
Case summary Watson and Spratt challenged the Access to Abortion Services Act, which creates a no-protest (“bubble”) zone around abortion clinics to allow women access to clinic services free of unwanted approaches by anti-abortion protesters. Watson and Spratt argued that the bubble zone law violated their Charter right to freedom of expression. Watson/Spratt is an extension of the Lewis and Demers cases. In R … Read more Watson v R; Spratt v R [2008]
Read our 2007 Annual Report to learn about West Coast LEAF’s work for gender justice in the 2006/2007 fiscal year. Publications
In April 2007, we released our Court Watch Report from 2005-2006. This report is part of our Family Law Project. Publications