About us

Since 1964, CCLA has passionately defended the fundamental human rights and civil liberties of all Canadians through:
  • Public Education
  • Litigation
  • Citizen’s Engagement
  • Monitoring and Research
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CCLET presents That's Not Fair!

An animated series of videos, online games, and lesson plans to introduce children ages 7-11 to critical thinking and the habits of democracy.

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Celebrating Canada 2013

Save the date for CCLA's annual fundraising gala - Celebrating Canada! May 29, 2013 - Fermenting Cellar, Distillery District, Toronto

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Canadian Artists for Civil Liberties

“Fundamental freedoms are the beating heart of our vibrant society. They enable us to express ourselves freely, to contribute to important debates and to make an impact on the world around us. As a Canadian Artist for Civil Liberties, I am committed to protecting civil liberties and upholding democratic values, and I endorse the philosophy, mandate and goals of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.”

>>Take the pledge now!

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Education

Since the early 1990s, the Canadian Civil Liberties Education Trust has developed a unique approach to teaching civil liberties in the classroom. The organization provides free workshops and seminars in schools and educational institutions to teach citizens about social justice, their rights and freedoms.Read more...

Fundamental Freedoms

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects those freedoms that are considered fundamental in a democratic society. These freedoms include:
  • Freedom of Expression
  • Freedom of Association
  • Freedom of Assembly
  • Freedom of Religion
  • Freedom of Information
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Public Safety

The CCLA monitors the legal and policy frameworks that govern policing and the administration of justice in Canada to ensure that they are sufficiently respectful of civil liberties and Charter rights. This program includes:
  • Police Powers
  • Police Accountability
  • Privacy and Policing
  • Liberty and Due-Process
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National Security

Through litigation and advocacy, CCLA works for accountability and compliance with Canada"s legal obligations. The key issues are:
  • Privacy & National Security
  • Fair Trial & Due Process
  • Absolute Prohibition Against Torture
  • Security Certificates
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Equality

The equality program concerns all forms of discrimination, and seeks to promote fairness and equality in Canada. The following groups fall within the CCLA program:
  • Disability
  • Gender
  • Immigration
  • LGBT
  • Race / Ethnicity / Religion
  • Socioeconomic Status
  • Youth
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Recent Work

Recent Posts

RSS Rights Watch

  • FBI reveals drone use on US soil June 19, 2013
    FBI Director Robert Mueller has revealed in a Congressional hearing that the agency uses drones for surveillance on US soil. Asked whether the agency has policies in place to address the privacy implications of drone use, the Director stated that the agency was only “in the initial stages” of developing such protocols. Pressed further on privacy […]
  • Senators express concern over union transparency bill June 19, 2013
    The Senate is in final debate this week on a bill aimed at greater transparency in union finances. Passed by the House at the end of 2012 as a tax amendment bill, it requires that disbursements over $5,000 by unions be disclosed. MP Russ Heibert, who introduced the bill, says that unions’ spending should be […]
  • Google Glass raising privacy concerns June 19, 2013
    Google Glass, the as-yet unreleased Internet-connected gadget that is still in beta testing has raised privacy concerns around the world. Yesterday, Canada’s Privacy Commissioner sent a joint letter to Google (with privacy commissioners from Australia, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand and Switzerland) urging it to consider various privacy-related issues, includin […]
  • Alleged Strip-Search at Halifax Hospital June 13, 2013
    CBC News reports that the father of Rehtaeh Parsons, a 17-year old girl who committed suicide after being cyber-bullied, accuses two male staff of strip-searching his daughter when she was being treated for depression at the IWK Health Centre’s mental health unit in Halifax.  He asserts they were looking for a hidden razor on her […]
  • Nova Scotia Denies Funding for Sexual Reassignment Surgery June 13, 2013
    Nova Scotia’s Health Minister, David Wilson, reportedly decided last week not to fund sexual reassignment surgery, which is either partially or fully covered for 94% of Canadians, across all provinces except Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and PEI. Wilson stated that when deciding which areas to fund, the Ministry considers research, other jurisdictions, and res […]

Features

Icon of information logo - capital i Key Reports

Press release – New CCLA Report: Police Background Checks That Include Non-Conviction Records Undermine the Presumption of Innocence

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media contact:

Penelope Chester

647.822.8764

media@ccla.org

www.ccla.org

 

New CCLA Report: Police Background Checks That Include Non-Conviction Records Undermine the Presumption of Innocence

Toronto – September 17, 2012 – The Canadian Civil Liberties Association has released a new report entitled Presumption of Guilt? The Disclosure of Non-Conviction Records in Police Background Checks. The report sheds light on the impact [...]

Op-Ed

Canada’s Universal Periodic Review

On April 26 Canada will undergo its second Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a unique global accountability process that allows all members of the UN Human Rights Council to review Canada’s compliance with international human rights law.  CCLA believes this is an important process and was pleased to participate in a pre-session with states allowing us [...]

Multimedia

Audio Audio

AUDIO: CCLA’s NGO Report To The UN For Canada’s 2nd UPR Review

CCLA’s Sukanya Pillay, Director of the National Security Program, speaks to RCI’s Wojtek Gwiazda about CCLA’s recent report to the UN – the rights of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrant workers, the right to peaceful protest, and  the number of Aboriginal women in Canadian prisons, are some of the issues raised by CCLA as part [...]

Icon of camera Video

CCLA Holds Conference Assessing Global Counter-Terror Initiatives

On Friday, October 19th, 2012, nearly 100 attendees gathered at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law for a one day symposium entitled “The Social Cost of National Security: Assessing the Impact of Global Counter-Terror Initiatives on Canadian Society”.  The conference was a partnership between the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and the Canadian Arab Institute [...]