In June 2019, West Coast LEAF made submissions to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services urging the government of BC to commit in Budget 2020 to making financial supports more accessible for families dealing with the Read More
Open letter urging the Province to overhaul the outdated BC Mental Health Act
On June 26, 2019, the Province announced a 10-year strategy to transform our mental health and addictions system. The investment in voluntary, community-based mental health and addiction services is welcome news. Unfortunately, “A Pathway to Hope” does nothing to Read More
RELEASE: Community groups disappointed provincial mental health and addictions strategy neglects law
For immediate release – June 27, 2019 VANCOUVER – Community groups joined together to express disappointment in “A Pathway to Hope” – the provincial mental health and addictions strategy announced yesterday by the Premier and the Minister of Mental Read More
BC Court of Appeal Denies Indigenous Prisoners a Remedy for Discrimination in Solitary Confinement Case
Earlier this week, the BC Court of Appeal (“BCCA”) released its judgment in the solitary confinement case. The case concerned the federal government’s appeal of the successful constitutional challenge of Canada’s use of solitary confinement by the BC Civil Read More
RELEASE: BC’s highest court affirms that Canada’s solitary confinement laws violate rights
For immediate release – June 24, 2019 VANCOUVER – Today, the BC Court of Appeal released its judgment in the challenge to Canada’s solitary confinement laws brought by the BC Civil Liberties Association and the John Howard Society of Read More
Letter calling for legal aid for anti-violence organizations protecting clients’ counselling records
In June 2019, West Coast LEAF, EVA BC and Surrey Women’s Centre wrote to the Attorney General of BC to call for adequate legal aid for anti-violence organizations facing applications to disclose client counselling records to defense counsel as Read More
Missing Women Inquiry Report Released
Today, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls released its final report. West Coast LEAF’s Executive Director, Kasari Govender, and Director of Litigation, Raji Mangat, were in Ottawa for the ceremonies marking the end of Read More
It’s déjà vu all over again: (Still) defending access to Charter justice at the Court of Appeal
Today, we are at the BC Court of Appeal intervening in Council of Canadians with Disabilities v. British Columbia, an appeal about the ability of public interest organizations – such as West Coast LEAF – to challenge the constitutionality Read More