CCLA Intervening in UBC Case to Defend Inclusive and Rights-Respecting University Policies

Toronto – The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will be intervening in the case of Irvine et al v University of British Columbia to support that universities remain spaces where critical thinking, respect for diverse perspectives, and robust public debate can continue to flourish.

“Universities should not be places of ideological conformity. They are places where competing ideas can be tested, debated, and scrutinized,” said Howard Sapers, Executive Director of the CCLA.  

In this case, the petitioners challenge policies and actions of the University of British Columbia that support Indigenous territorial acknowledgements, promote diversity in faculty and staff hiring, and protect freedom of expression on issues related to the conflict in Gaza. The petitioners argue that these policies and actions violate provisions of British Columbia’s University Act requiring universities to be “non-political.”

“Indigenous territorial acknowledgements, equitable hiring initiatives, and protections for freedom of expression reflect commitments to human rights, equality, and academic freedom. These are not partisan or political positions” said Harini Sivalingam, Director of the Equality Program at the CCLA. “Treating efforts to advance Indigenous reconciliation, inclusion, and free expression as political risks undermines the very principles that universities are meant to uphold.”

The CCLA is intervening to argue that, if Charter values are to be considered in the interpretation of the University Act, that interpretation must apply in a manner that takes into account the full range of chartes values and fosters an inclusive, equitable and open learning environment. Universities play a vital role in nurturing open inquiry, academic freedom, and the exchange of diverse viewpoints.

CCLA is grateful for the excellent pro bono representation provided by Maya Ollek and Milica Pavlovic of JFK Law whose Vancouver office is located on the unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.