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 [...]

CCLA Supports Repeal of Controversial Montreal Protest Bylaw

CCLA has written to Montreal Councillor Alex Norris who planned to introduce a motion to repeal Montreal’s controversial bylaw: P-6.  The bylaw requires individuals to provide prior notice to police of their meeting places and demonstration itineraries regardless of the size of the planned protest and without making any exceptions for spontaneous assemblies.  The bylaw [...]

Mass Arrests Under Montreal Bylaw Must Stop

The CCLA is deeply concerned about the Montreal police force’s use of a controversial municipal bylaw to cut off social protests before they begin, detain individuals en masse, and issue costly tickets to individuals seeking to exercise their constitutionally protected rights.

In May of 2012 Montreal’s City Council adopted amendments to a bylaw that made it [...]

Supreme Court of Canada Upholds Hate Speech Provisions

The Supreme Court of Canada has rendered its long-awaited decision in  Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission v. William Whatcott, et al. and upheld the constitutionality of hate speech provisions in the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code.  The CCLA had intervened in the case to argue that the section – s. 14(1)(b) – is unconstitutional under section 2(b) of the [...]

Proposed Ottawa Special Events By-law: CCLA Weighs In

CCLA has written to a Committee of Ottawa City Councillors considering a new special events bylaw.  The bylaw requires that individuals and groups wishing to have special events seek a permit from the City.  For large events of 300 people or more, a permit is required even when the event will take place on private [...]