Updates & Press

Release: BC Budget 2022 fails to take bold action on gender-based violence

02/02/2022Access to justice, Economic security, Family well-being, Gender-based violence Press

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

We’re back in court to defend access to justice

13/01/2022Access to justice, Healthcare Update

Over the last two days, we have been at the Supreme Court of Canada intervening in Council of Canadians with Disabilities v British Columbia – a case that will have a major impact on the ability of public interest organizations to bring legal cases on behalf of marginalized communities. We intervened to argue that organizations like West … Read more We’re back in court to defend access to justice

2022 Media coverage

01/01/2022Access to justice, Criminalization, Economic security, Family well-being, Gender-based violence, Healthcare Press

We’re proud to make the news regularly, to share our expertise widely, and ultimately to shift public opinion, laws, and policies…

Breaking: We’re back at the Supreme Court of Canada!

30/11/2021Access to justice, Family well-being, Gender-based violence Update

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’ll be at the Supreme Court tomorrow!

02/11/2021Gender-based violence Update

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!

New report offers wise practices for learner-centred, justice-seeking legal education

07/10/2021Access to justice Update

West Coast LEAF has long believed that one of the best ways to advance legal rights is to support people to know their rights and understand how to use them. At the same time, we know that legal rights on paper are often painfully disconnected from people’s real lives. Legal recourse can be hard or … Read more New report offers wise practices for learner-centred, justice-seeking legal education

We’re at the Supreme Court of Canada today to fight for protections for sexual assault survivors in criminal trials

06/10/2021Access to justice, Gender-based violence Update

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

Release: Supreme Court set to review protections for sexual assault survivors in criminal trials

05/10/2021Access to justice, Gender-based violence Press

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

Defending the privacy and equality rights of sexual assault survivors

20/08/2021Access to justice, Gender-based violence Update

West Coast LEAF and Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre, formerly WAVAW, have been granted leave to jointly intervene in two appeals before the Supreme Court of Canada that address the constitutionality of new protections for complainants in sexual assault trials. The cases, R. v J.J. (an appeal and cross-appeal arising out of BC), and A.S. v Her Majesty the Queen (an … Read more Defending the privacy and equality rights of sexual assault survivors

Release: Supreme Court of Canada improves child support law, addressing economic insecurity of single mothers and their children

04/06/2021Access to justice, Economic security, Family well-being Press

The Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in Colucci v Colucci today, setting out much-needed clarifications in child support law that will make it easier for single mothers to receive the child support that they are owed. The Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) and West Coast LEAF are thrilled that the Court adopted many of the arguments that they set … Read more Release: Supreme Court of Canada improves child support law, addressing economic insecurity of single mothers and their children