Canada is a signatory to a number of international declarations and conventions that commit our governments to advancing the equality rights of women in BC. One such international treaty is the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Read More
In October 2016, West Coast LEAF wrote to the Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services to call for women’s equality to be made a priority for BC’s 2017 budget. We made particular recommendations to reduce poverty, improve women’s access to justice, and address Read More
In September 2016, West Coast LEAF wrote to the BC Ministry of Justice in response to two consultation papers about property division and guardianship under BC’s Family Law Act. We spoke out against proposed amendments to the Act that would give Read More
Access to affordable, high-quality child care is essential not just for women’s equality in employment but also for the full realization of women’s human rights. Canada has made little progress on child care in recent years, and current commitments are insufficient and fail to Read More
In September 2016, West Coast LEAF submitted a letter to Status of Women Canada in response to a call for feedback on the development of a federal strategy on gender-based violence. To respond to the alarming rate of serious Read More
In September 2016, we submitted a briefing note to the BC government calling for changes to the Employment Assistance Act and the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act that would support women’s financial independence, self-determination in relationships, and ability Read More
In August 2016, West Coast LEAF wrote to post-secondary institutions in British Columbia about the implementation of legislation requiring them to adopt sexual violence and misconduct policies. We’re encouraged that the BC government is taking initiative to protect the Read More
In July 2016, West Coast LEAF wrote to Michelle Stilwell, Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation, to call for an end to the clawback of maternity leave and parental leave EI benefits from assistance payments for parents who are Read More
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, which would add explicit protection Read More
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 Read More
