On June 26, 2019, the Province announced a 10-year strategy to transform our mental health and addictions system. The investment in voluntary, community-based mental health and addiction services is welcome news. Unfortunately, “A Pathway to Hope” does nothing to address ways to reform the outdated law at the heart of the system. In an open … Read more Open letter urging the Province to overhaul the outdated BC Mental Health Act
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
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
In June 2019, West Coast LEAF, EVA BC and Surrey Women’s Centre wrote to the Attorney General of BC to call for adequate legal aid for anti-violence organizations facing applications to disclose client counselling records to defense counsel as part of sexual assault cases. As it stands now, anti-violence organizations with very limited budgets are being forced to cover … Read more Letter calling for legal aid for anti-violence organizations protecting clients’ counselling records
“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
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
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
On May 13, 2019, 25 organizations and individuals sent an open letter to Canadian government urging swift action to end sex discrimination in the Indian Act, as called for in a statement issued by the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls before the release of its final report. West Coast LEAF was … Read more Open letter on ending sex discrimination in the Indian Act
On June 15, 2023, West Coast LEAF appeared before BC’s Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services to share our key recommendations for Budget 2024…
On June 15, 2023, West Coast LEAF appeared before BC’s Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services to share our key recommendations for Budget 2024…
