News alert: What has the Charter done for us lately?
A lot, actually! On April 17, 1985, the equality rights provisions enshrined in section 15 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms came into force. West Coast LEAF was established in that same year to ensure that the rights in Read More
News alert: Targeting street involved people is discriminatory, court says
Today, in Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users v. Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association and the City of Vancouver, the BC Supreme Court found that the Downtown Ambassadors program has engaged in discriminatory conduct against homeless people. West Coast Read More
News alert: Hundreds of recommendations on violence against Indigenous women and girls go unimplemented
An alarming study released today shows that governments in Canada have repeatedly ignored expert recommendations to stop violence against Indigenous women and girls. Researchers with the Legal Strategy Coalition on Violence Against Indigenous Women reviewed 58 reports dealing with aspects of Read More
News alert: Calling for a Sanctuary City Policy
Today, West Coast LEAF is calling on the City of Vancouver to become a “sanctuary city” in which everyone can access municipal services and police protection regardless of their immigration status, without fear of detention and deportation. Frequently, migrants Read More
News Alert: Speaking out in support of transgender rights
Today is the Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day dedicated to memorializing those who have been killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice, and to raising public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people. To mark the occasion, people Read More
News Alert: Should a government benefits scheme take the needs of pregnant women into account?
We think so. In fact, we think the government’s failure to take the needs of pregnant women into account violates our Charter right to equality. And we are in Ottawa today preparing to present our argument to this effect Read More