CCLA before Supreme Court to promote meaningful police accountability and oversight

The CCLA is before the Supreme Court today, arguing that police officers involved in an investigation by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) into the use of force resulting in death or serious injury to a civilian are not entitled to the assistance of legal counsel in the preparation of their duty notes of the incident. [...]

Supreme Court ruling reinforces integrity of police complaint system, civil claims

The Supreme Court has released its decision in Penner v. NRPSB, a case that examined whether a finding by the police complaints system can effectively terminate an ongoing or subsequent civil action.  The Supreme Court affirmed that, due significant differences between the two legal procedures, it would be a “serious affront to basic principles of [...]

CCLA celebrates robust win for Canadians’ privacy at the Supreme Court

The CCLA is extremely pleased with the Supreme Court’s decision in R. v. Telus, which upholds strong privacy protections for the millions of Canadians who communicate via text message.  The Criminal Code contains comprehensive provisions on intercepting private communication, giving individuals heightened privacy protection when police apply for a wiretap authorization.  The Canadian Civil Liberties [...]

Supreme Court Affirms Principle of Individualized Sentencing

CCLA welcomes the decision released today by the Supreme Court of Canada in R. v. Pham, affirming the central role that the principle of individualized sentencing should play: that the personal circumstances of an offender are relevant in determining their sentence. The central question on appeal was whether a judge should exercise his or her [...]

First Nations Child and Family Caring Society Human Rights Complaint can Proceed, Federal Court of Appeal Decides

CCLA welcomes the decision of the Federal Court of Appeal in the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society (FNCS) v. Canada decision released today.   The complaint by FNCS  alleges that the federal government has discriminated against First Nations children on reserve by under-funding child welfare services provided to them.  The federal government argued that [...]