Case summary This Inquiry concerns the conduct of a judge while he presided over a sexual assault trial (R v Wagar) as a judge of the Provincial Court of Alberta, including the judge’s remarks that: “sex and pain sometimes go together […] that’s not necessarily a bad thing”; “young wom[e]n want to have sex, particularly … Read more Inquiry Pursuant to Section 63(1) of the Judges Act regarding the Hon. Justice Robin Camp [2016]
In 2016, West Coast LEAF and the Canadian Centre for Elder Law created Roads to Safety, a legal handbook for older women in BC, as well as multilingual wallet cards listing sources of support. The handbook covers legal issues that older women might deal with when they have experienced violence. It explains rights and options, … Read more Roads to Safety
West Coast LEAF’s vision of gender equality includes a commitment to advancing the human rights of persons who are transgender and challenging the systemic inequalities they face. Read our letter in support of Bill M-222, an amendment to the Human Rights Code that would recognize gender identity and gender expression, which would add explicit protection from discrimination. … Read more Letter in support of the Bill M-222 to recognize gender identity and gender expression in the Human Rights Code
The Legal Strategy Coalition on Violence Against Indigenous Women has issued a press release to highlight its public statement urging full involvement of the provinces and territories in the national inquiry on missing and murdered Indigenous women. The participation of provincial and territorial governments is essential in order to ensure coordinated efforts in responding to and preventing … Read more Release: Coalition on violence against Indigenous women statement on the importance of full cooperation with the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
Vancouver – Today, the BC Court of Appeal (“BCCA”) rendered judgment in Scott v. College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia. In this case, the complainant alleged that her massage therapist engaged in sexual misconduct. The Court was called upon to determine how governing bodies of healthcare professionals may respond to such allegations in order to protect the … Read more Release: BC Court of Appeal rules in favour of protecting the safety of women
VANCOUVER – In a ground-breaking judgment, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled today that mandatory minimum sentencing for certain drug offences violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This case challenged a section of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, which creates a mandatory minimum one year jail term for drug possession in certain situations. West Coast LEAF … Read more Release: Supreme Court of Canada strikes down mandatory minimum sentence for drug offence
On April 14, 2016, West Coast LEAF’s Executive Director and Director of Litigation appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in Ottawa to offer our expert perspective on the barriers to women’s access to justice in Canada. West Coast LEAF was invited to share our expertise on these issues as part of … Read more Submission to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights on the Study on Access to the Justice System
Every year, West Coast LEAF issues our CEDAW Report Card on how BC is measuring up when it comes to international obligations under the UN Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Learn more about this project or download the 2015 CEDAW Report Card. Publications
As a member of the Legal Strategy Coalition on Violence Against Indigenous Women (LSC), West Coast LEAF is one of 20 signatories to a statement demanding full participation of the provinces and territories in the upcoming National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The LSC calls for federal, provincial, and territorial governments to take all … Read more Statement on Provincial and Territorial Cooperation With the Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
In April 2016 West Coast LEAF wrote a letter calling on the Burnaby Board of Education to establish a Sanctuary Schools policy so that all parents, regardless of immigration status, can feel safe sending their children to school without jeopardizing their lives in Canada. Such a policy would also reduce barriers for undocumented women experiencing abuse because … Read more Letter in Support of Sanctuary Schools Burnaby Proposal
