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STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS

CCLA actively stands up to power by fighting against rights violations, abuse of police powers, inequality, and discrimination. We stand for freedom, equality, and a better future for all people in Canada.

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Our Work

Our Work Centres Around Our Five Core Areas

We believe in

EQUALITY

Equality – which includes equity, diversity, and inclusion – recognizes that every person is equal in value and worth, and each is deserving of fairness, dignity and rights.

We believe in

FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS

Fundamental Freedoms allow individuals and groups to express themselves, to believe and practice what they choose, and to exercise their right to vote.

We believe in

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

We work to ensure that constitutional rights are respected at every step of the criminal justice system, and that the extraordinary powers conferred to police and criminal courts are used proportionately, fairly, humanely, and only when absolutely necessary.

We believe in

PRIVACY

We bring a principled and rights-focused approach to assessing the impact of new technologies and surveillance, in areas ranging from policing methods to people’s public and private lives.

We Believe In

EDUCATION

CCLA & CCLET provide free workshops, seminars, and in-class sessions in schools, educational institutions, and faculties of education, educating citizens about their rights and freedoms.

What's Happening Right Now

EQUALITYLGBTQ2S+
April 23, 2025

CCLA welcomes decision on gender affirming healthcare funding in Ontario

CCLA welcomes the decision of the Court of Appeal for Ontario in OHIP v KS confirming that the gender affirming health care recommended for K.S. is an insurable service and not excluded…
Harini Sivalangam
Love27
CRIMINAL JUSTICENotwithstanding ClausePRESS RELEASES
April 23, 2025

Statement on Proposed Use of Notwithstanding Clause in Run-Up to Federal Election

TORONTO —  Shakir Rahim, Director of the Criminal Justice Program (CCLA), made the following statement: The proposed use of the notwithstanding clause to overrule the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in R.…
CCLA
Love27
Freedom of ExpressionFUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMSRight to Protest
April 19, 2025

The Trouble With Toronto’s Proposed Bubble Zone Bylaw

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms just celebrated its 43rd anniversary. On this occasion, Anaïs Bussières McNicoll (director of CCLA’s Fundamental Freedoms program) and Jin Huh (Social Planning Toronto’s…
Anaïs Bussières McNicoll
Love27
Conditions of ConfinementCRIMINAL JUSTICEFair Trial, Due Process & SentencingHabeas CorpusPrisons, Jails & Community SupervisionSolitary Confinement
April 17, 2025

CCLA Intervening before Supreme Court to Protect Habeas Corpus

The CCLA will appear as an intervenor before the Supreme Court of Canada in AGC v. Dorsey on May 5, 2025. This appeal concerns the scope of habeas corpus, often…
Shakir Rahim
Love27

Live Updates

View all our latest updates, issues, briefs, and activities.

VIEW ALL LATEST UPDATES

In The News

CRIMINAL JUSTICEIN THE NEWSRight to Reasonable Bail
January 30, 2024

CTV News: More than 80% of inmates in Ontario jails last year were legally innocent, awaiting trial: data

“We at CCLA, like others, we care about public safety,” Rahim said."We just want to think about what we can do within our bail system to have it run effectively.”…
CCLA
Love13
Emergencies ActFreedom of AssociationFreedom of ExpressionIN THE NEWS
January 23, 2024

CBC News: Ottawa’s use of Emergencies Act against convoy protests was unreasonable, violated Charter, court rules

Noa Mendelsohn Aviv, executive director of the CCLA, said their win sets a clear and critical precedent for future governments. "Emergency is not in the eye of the beholder. Emergency…
CCLA
Love12
EQUALITYIN THE NEWSLGBTQ2S+Youth
October 17, 2023

The Guardian: Canada province uses constitutional override to advance pronoun legislation

“The government of Saskatchewan is threatening to shred a piece of the charter this Tuesday, and in so doing violate the rights, the freedom, the privacy, the equality and the…
CCLA
Love14
CRIMINAL JUSTICEIN THE NEWSReasonable Expectations of PrivacySearch & Seizure
August 11, 2023

CBC: Arctic Bay residents raise concerns after RCMP search mail

Shakir Rahim, a lawyer and director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association's criminal justice program, said it raises "serious concerns." Section 8 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms states…
CCLA
Love19

Other Ways To Help

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CCLA does not receive government funding. We rely solely on the support of our donor community.

Together, we can uphold the rights and freedoms of all people living in Canada.

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