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
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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!
We’re headed to the Supreme Court of Canada tomorrow, for a case that has huge implications for consent law. R. v Kirkpatrick will decide whether it is sexual assault under the law when a person insists their partner wear a condom and their partner then removes it without consent or sabotages the condom. Non-consensual condom removal (often … Read more We’ll be at the Supreme Court tomorrow!
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]
On September 29, 2021, West Coast LEAF made a written submission on BC’s Budget 2022 to the provincial legislature’s Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services. The Committee conducted public consultations on priorities for the next budget and will release a report outlining its recommendations by November 15, 2021. The upcoming budget must not be about … Read more Submissions to the BC Budget 2022 Consultation
A two-day hearing that has significant implications for how courts handle sexual assault cases is underway at the Supreme Court of Canada. We are intervening alongside Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre, formerly WAVAW Rape Crisis Centre, in the two appeals being heard together—R. v J.J. and A.S. v Her Majesty the Queen et al. These cases are about … Read more We’re at the Supreme Court of Canada today to fight for protections for sexual assault survivors in criminal trials
VANCOUVER, UNCEDED COAST SALISH HOMELANDS – A two-day hearing that has significant implications for how courts handle sexual assault cases commences today at the Supreme Court of Canada. West Coast LEAF and Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre (formerly WAVAW Rape Crisis Centre) (“the Coalition”) are intervening together in two appeals being heard at the same … Read more Release: Supreme Court set to review protections for sexual assault survivors in criminal trials