Feed aggregator
BCCLA Supports RCMP Complaints Body That RCMP Not Self-Investigate
B. C. Civil Liberties Association - Tue, 12/07/2010 - 17:00
The BCCLA endorsed a key recommendation that the RCMP no longer investigate itself in today’s report by the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP into the death of Robert Dziekanski at Vancouver International Airport.
BCCLA Endorses Report, Says Olympic Police Can Do Better
B. C. Civil Liberties Association - Wed, 12/01/2010 - 17:00
The BCCLA announced its general support for a series of recommendations issued today by the 2010 Olympic Civil Liberties Advisory Committee today, but added that the recommendations ought to go further to ensure free speech and free assembly rights are protected in and around the Winter Games venues and corridors between them.
BCCLA demands Coroner call inquest into Boyd death
B. C. Civil Liberties Association - Mon, 11/29/2010 - 17:00
The BCCLA is demanding that the Coroner call an inquest into the death of Paul Boyd at the hands of the Vancouver Police Department. Recent media reports have suggested that the Coroner is not certain whether or not Paul Boyd was in police custody or not, and therefore whether or not a coroner’s inquest is required.
BCCLA Helps Activists Sue City Over Olympic Gag Law
B. C. Civil Liberties Association - Wed, 10/06/2010 - 17:00
The BCCLA is supporting two activists in challenging the constitutionality of the City of Vancouver’s recently passed Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games By-law.
Police Chiefs and BCCLA Agree That Police Accountability System Broken, Call on Solicitor General for Action
B. C. Civil Liberties Association - Thu, 09/23/2010 - 17:00
In a surprising about face yesterday, B.C.’s municipal police chiefs along with representatives from the RCMP joined in a press conference to declare that the current system for investigating criminal allegations against police officers, and in custody deaths, is broken and needs provincial intervention to restore public confidence in the police.
Library Agrees to Re-Examine Decision Barring Suicide Discussion From Meeting Rooms
B. C. Civil Liberties Association - Thu, 09/23/2010 - 17:00
Following a presentation from the BCCLA last night, the Vancouver Public Library Board has agreed to revisit a decision by VPL management to bar the pro-choice group Exit International from presenting in library meeting rooms.
RCMP Witness Endorses Civilian Investigation Model
B. C. Civil Liberties Association - Wed, 09/22/2010 - 17:00
RCMP Superintendent Wayne Rideout, a key witness in the inquiry into the death of Robert Dziekanski, became the latest high profile individual to endorse civilian investigation of police involved deaths for policy violations or criminal issues.
BCCLA to Present to Vancouver Library Board Tonight on Pro Choice Group Presentation
B. C. Civil Liberties Association - Wed, 09/22/2010 - 17:00
The BC Civil Liberties Association will be presenting to the Vancouver Public Library Board this evening on the issue of Exit International wishing to hold a workshop in the library’s meeting rooms based on Exit’s Peaceful Pill Handbook. The BCCLA will be asking the Library Board to overturn the Chief Librarian’s decision not to permit the room booking.
Housing Minister Reverses Plan to Arrest Homeless
B. C. Civil Liberties Association - Tue, 09/21/2010 - 17:00
According to recent media reports, B.C. Housing Minister Rich Coleman is reversing plans that he endorsed as recently as Monday to arrest homeless people who refuse to report to the nearest homeless shelter during inclement weather.
BCCLA Asks Vancouver Public Library to Overturn Right to Die Presentation Ban
B. C. Civil Liberties Association - Mon, 09/20/2010 - 17:00
The Vancouver Public Library is inappropriately restricting free speech by preventing a right to die group from discussing suicide methods with members of the public says the BCCLA.
BCCLA Uncovers Plan to Turn Homeless Shelters Into Jails
B. C. Civil Liberties Association - Mon, 09/20/2010 - 17:00
The BCCLA has uncovered four documents that suggest the provincial government is in the final stages of preparing legislation to compel the homeless to remain in homeless shelters during the 2010 Olympics.
“New” Police Act Still Has Police Investigating Themselves
B. C. Civil Liberties Association - Thu, 09/16/2010 - 17:00
B.C.’s new Solicitor General has introduced proposed changes to B.C.’s police act that, disappointingly, still have the police investigating themselves, even in cases of in custody deaths.
Legal Observer Teams Trained to Hit the Streets in 2010
B. C. Civil Liberties Association - Tue, 09/14/2010 - 17:00
If the BCCLA and Pivot get their way, more than 100 pairs of eyeballs will be on the streets of Vancouver during the 2010 Olympics watching for rights violations by the more than 7,000 police officers, 5,000 private security guards and 4,500 members of the Canadian armed forces.
CCLA urges Attorney-General to protect Ontarians against abusive law suits
Canadian Civil Liberties Association - Tue, 08/31/2010 - 09:14
August 31, 2010 — Earlier this month, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) made submissions to the Hon. Chris Bentley, Attorney General of Ontario, urging him to provide greater protections for Ontarians against abusive civil law suits that unduly infringe freedom of speech and public debate. In recent years, several jurisdictions in North America have observed [...]
Categories: Rights and Liberties News
BCCLA calls for independent review of three police deaths in ten months
B. C. Civil Liberties Association - Mon, 08/30/2010 - 17:00
The BCCLA is seeking an independent review into how three men could die in a period of just ten months in police cells in Saskatoon, a city of 257,000 residents. In comparison, Vancouver, which is twice as large as Saskatoon, has had no deaths in its cells to the knowledge of the Association since the death of Daniel Serbeh on December 7, 2007.
Categories: Rights and Liberties News
RCMP must fix women’s rights violations in Kamloops jail
B. C. Civil Liberties Association - Sun, 08/29/2010 - 17:00
Following news of allegations of voyeuristic activities by male RCMP and civilian guards at the RCMP lockup in Kamloops, the BCCLA is calling for improved conditions in the women’s cells in the city, including basic things like female guards for female prisoners, running water and access to showers.
Categories: Rights and Liberties News
City of Toronto Campaign Policy Unduly Limits Expression
Canadian Civil Liberties Association - Fri, 08/27/2010 - 12:55
The CCLA recently wrote to the Clerk of the City of Toronto expressing concerns about a City policy that prohibits candidates in the upcoming municipal election from campaigning on City property. Interpreted broadly, this policy may have the effect of prohibiting campaigning on public sidewalks, in public parks and in local community centres. The precise [...]
Categories: Rights and Liberties News
Looking Back, Moving Forward: Two Months After the G20
Canadian Civil Liberties Association - Fri, 08/27/2010 - 07:10
Two months ago, on June 27, Canadians were taking stock of what happened during the G20 summit in Toronto. Under the Public Works Protection Act, the legal landscape in downtown Toronto was transformed: from excessive use of police force, unconstitutional violations of fundamental liberties, to unlawful arrests and detentions, CCLA believes that events that took [...]
Categories: Rights and Liberties News
The CCLA’s long summer demanding accountability for G20 policing and governance
Canadian Civil Liberties Association - Tue, 08/24/2010 - 08:55
24 August 2010 — The G8/G20 Summits in Huntsville and Toronto, Ontario, respectively, resulted in the largest peace-time security deployment Canadian history. The federal government spent C$930-million on security and deployed 5000 RCMP officers and thousands of provincial and municipal police into the streets of Toronto. The provincial government awarded police sweeping [...]
Categories: Rights and Liberties News
BCCLA Demands Inquest into Curtis Brick’s Death
B. C. Civil Liberties Association - Mon, 08/23/2010 - 17:00
The BCCLA joins the Union of BC Indian Chiefs and several other aboriginal organizations in demanding a coroner’s inquest into the death of homeless aboriginal man Curtis Brick. Witnesses alleged improper and degrading treatment of Brick by emergency first responders.