MARL has had another successful year with a lot of focus on networking, building relationships with the community and other organizations and promoting the Human right’s education Program. Estelle’s report has identified many of the highlights and you will find further details on our programs and projects in the rest of the Annual Report which I hope you will take a moment to read.
After bearing witness on the on going conflict that is currently occurring in the world, one is just overwhelmed by the courage of everyday citizens to stand in opposition to oppression. They demonstrate the courage to speak, to march, to demonstrate, to demand respect and dignity for all. We can ever be so thankful that in this incredible country of ours that our duty is to educate others on what we have accomplished is such as short time in our history. Again MARL has demonstrated the necessary courage to continue questioning how best to keep citizens informed and active by voicing that all rights need to be protected.
It is remarkable how things can change when dialogue becomes collaboration and vision becomes action. For MARL, this last year has been the work of like-minded people; determined to make a difference by committing themselves to change. But, above all else, it is the level of interconnectedness that MARL has cultivated with other organizations, schools, universities and individuals that best resonates with us on this year’s progress.
I am pleased to offer my greetings and annual report upon completion of my first year as MARL’s Executive Director. MARL has had another successful year with a lot of focus on networking, building relationships with the community and other organizations and promoting the Human right’s education Program. Estelle’s report has identified many of the highlights and you will find further details on our programs and projects in the rest of the Annual Report which I hope you will take a moment to read.
I am pleased to provide my annual report at the end of another busy year for MARL. As in years past, I am reminded just how important organizations like MARL are to those who hold dear our fundamental human rights and civil liberties. This year, we focused our energy on a wide range of topics including the misuse of tasers, drug testing in schools, the right of mature minors to consent to medical treatment, video surveillance in public places, religious exercises in public schools and the scanning and storage of personal information by private businesses.
Hello, my name is Cindy Murdoch and I am pleased to be joining MARL as the new ED. In the brief three weeks that I have been working here I have been catching up on all of the hard work MARL does through committees, community events and educational programs.
I am pleased once again to provide my annual report at the end of another successful year for MARL. The past year reaffirmed just how important organizations such as MARL are in a society that cherishes fundamental human rights and civil liberties. We tackled issues as wide ranging as threats to the right to protest at City Hall, non-consensual blood testing, euthanasia, public surveillance cameras and civilian oversight of police powers.
I am pleased once again to offer my report on another successful year at MARL. I hope you will read this Annual Report for full details on our programs and projects.
Charter Rights & Legislative Review -We reviewed 44 bills, completed a review of our policy on euthanasia and physician assisted suicide and began a review of our policy on religious exercises in Canadian public schools.
Referral - MARL provided referral and/or information in response to more than 80 inquiries from the public. We monitor the issues that arise in this work to determine which are issues that require more attention.