Canadian Civil Liberties Association » Police Accountability

CCLA Concerned about Criminal Libel Charges

Cara Zwibel — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:23:04 +0000

The CCLA has recently learned of the arrest of a Fredericton blogger under the Criminal Code’s criminal libel provisions. The blogger is alleged to have defamed a member of the Fredericton Police Force and was subsequently arrested and had his home searched and computer equipment seized. Criminal libel charges are very rare in Canada and [...]

CCLA in Supreme Court to maintain meaningful redress for police wrongdoing

abby — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:22:46 +0000

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association intervened in Penner v. NRPSB, a case before the Supreme Court of Canada that will examine whether a finding by the police complaints system can effectively terminate an ongoing or subsequent civil action.

An individual who has been mistreated by the police has a number of remedies:

A victim may complain to [...]

Federal government responds to call for G20 review

abby — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:21:31 +0000

On February 28, 2011, the CCLA wrote to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, reiterating the continued necessity for a broad public inquiry into the events surrounding the G20. On December 1, 2011, we received a reply from the current Minister of Public Safety, Vic Toews.

To read the response from Minister Toews click here. To [...]

CCLA Concerned about Police Presence During Campus Protest

Cara Zwibel — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:29:25 +0000

On November 10, 2011 some students at McGill University occupied an administration building and a larger protest took place outside the building on campus. Riot police were called to the scene and dispersed the crowd using pepper spray. There are also allegations that protesters and passersby were struck with batons. Student protests have long been [...]

CCLA argues for independent investigation of retired police officers – again

abby — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:23:05 +0000

On December 13, 2011, the CCLA intervened at the Ontario Court of Appeal in the case of Metcalf v. Scott to argue that Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (“SIU”) has the authority to investigate potentially criminal conduct committed by a police officer who has retired since the time of the incident. The SIU [...]

CCLA Monitoring Notes From The “Eviction” Of Occupy Toronto

Communications — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:13:36 +0000

In the late night/pre-dawn and throughout the day of November 23, 2011, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association had teams of independent monitors on hand at St. James Park, Toronto, to witness the ‘eviction’ of Occupy Toronto. CCLA Monitors observed mostly professional conduct on the part of Toronto Police both before and during the clearing of [...]

CCLA Renews Call for Public Inquiry into G20

Communications — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:00:18 +0000

November 23, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE