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

CRIMINAL JUSTICEPRESS RELEASES
December 7, 2023

State Accountability for Unconstitutional Legislation: CCLA intervening before Supreme Court in AGC v. Power

TORONTO — The Canadian Civil Liberties Association is appearing as an intervenor before the Supreme Court of Canada in Attorney General of Canada v. Power. This case is about when the state can be…
CCLA
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EQUALITYPRESS RELEASESSocio-Economic Status
December 7, 2023

CCLA files arguments in Fair Change Community Legal Clinic v Ontario

TORONTO — The CCLA has filed its written arguments in court in Fair Change Community Legal Clinic v Ontario. This case challenges parts of Ontario’s Safe Streets Act that punish unhoused and low-income members of the community for asking…
CCLA
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CRIMINAL JUSTICEFair Trial, Due Process & SentencingPRESS RELEASESRight to Reasonable Bail
November 29, 2023

CCLA Commends Senate for Passing Bill C-48 Amendments, Urges House of Commons Support

TORONTO — Following the Senate’s passage of Bill C-48 on bail reform, Shakir Rahim, Director of the Criminal Justice Program at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), made the following statement: “We commend…
CCLA
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CRIMINAL JUSTICEFair Trial RightsFair Trial, Due Process & Sentencing
November 24, 2023

Protecting Your Rights in Court – CCLA granted leave to intervene in R. v. Archambault before Supreme Court of Canada

In September 2019, federal legislation (Bill C-75) came into force limiting the availability of preliminary inquiries for a person accused of committing a criminal offence. A preliminary inquiry is a…
Shakir Rahim
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Live Updates

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

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In The News

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
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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
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CRIMINAL JUSTICEIN THE NEWSRight to Reasonable Bail
August 1, 2023

Newstalk 1010: Ontario police groups, legal advocates call for different approaches to proposed bail reform

Shakir Rahim, Criminal Justice Program Director, appeared on Newstalk 1010 to discuss proposed bail reform.
CCLA
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CRIMINAL JUSTICEIN THE NEWSRight to Reasonable Bail
July 24, 2023

The Hill Times: National Police Federation, police chiefs association favour bail reform bill, but advocacy groups wary of bail denial as ‘red herring’

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association and the John Howard Society are wary of Bill C-48, and have expressed concerns over the potential effects of denying bail to individuals.
CCLA
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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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