A coalition of civil liberties organizations warned that Vancouver’s latest draft action plan fails to adequately address the risk of displacement facing the unsheltered population during the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026. In the joint statement, the groups urged the city government to engage in meaningful consultation with rights advocates and to develop stronger mitigation measures. [...]
In a public letter issued on Tuesday, the Canadian Bar Association urged the country’s Senate not to pass Bill C-12. The group said the bill would deprive asylum seekers of their right to procedural fairness and disproportionately impact vulnerable groups. In the statement, the Bar Association argued that diverting asylum seekers from the Immigration and [...]
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced Thursday that the province will hold a referendum on provincial immigration control and constitutional amendments in October 2026. The provincial referendum will ask Albertan voters nine questions. In terms of policy issues, voters will indicate their stances on increased provincial control over immigration to prioritize economic migration; limiting provincial social [...]
More than 80 rights groups and individuals on Wednesday jointly called on British Columbia (BC) to recommit to implementing Indigenous rights. In the statement, the groups urged the government not to amend the provincial Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) and the Interpretation Act, so as to preserve the reconciliation efforts that have [...]
Amnesty International on Friday urged governments to take robust action and fulfill their obligations regarding climate change under international law. The statement follows Vanuatu’s circulation of a draft resolution on the matter to all UN member states. According to Amnesty, the draft resolution urges states to fulfil their obligations in regard to climate change, following [...]
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled on Friday that interprovincial mobility is a constitutional right under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The court held that Section 6 of the Charter protects the right to move freely within Canada. It follows that when the government imposes an interprovincial travel restriction, it must justify that [...]
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned Monday that Israel’s new measures in the Occupied West Bank violate international law. Guterres urged Israel to halt these measures and commit to the negotiated two-state solution, as the “only path to lasting peace.” His calls were echoed by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. The Israeli cabinet [...]
The Law Society of British Columbia warned Monday that the provincial government’s intention to amend the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) may erode judicial independence and improperly constrain the power of the courts. The proposed amendment would limit the role of the judiciary in matters related to DRIPA’s implementation. In the [...]
The BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) on Monday called for an independent investigation into the alleged use of excessive force by Canadian police against a Black defense lawyer. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association and the Canadian Bar Association issued a similar appeal last Thursday. On January 23, Sudine Riley, a lawyer who is a Black woman, [...]
Doctors without Borders (MSF) on Monday denounced the blocking of humanitarian access to opposition-held areas by the government of South Sudan, warning of harm afflicting vulnerable populations, including children, pregnant women and patients with chronic or critical conditions. In a statement, the group warned that at least 23 patients are currently in critical condition and [...]
