Our Recent Cases and Reports

CCLA is always working to protect your civil liberties.

Below is a list of our latest high-profile cases and reports.
Be sure to check back often, to stay up to date with the latest news about your civil liberties.

Strip Searches in Ontario Prisons

Ontario's law gives provincial prisons carte blanche to strip search any prisoner, at any time, for no reason. We believe the law is unconstitutional.
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COVID-19

Stay updated with all the latest news from CCLA, including our work monitoring the response to COVID-19 to ensure it’s based on science and is not unnecessarily intrusive to our liberties

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Bill 21

Bill 21 is a law which disproportionately impacts people who are already marginalized. New Quebec laws ban Canadians working as teachers, lawyers, police officers, and more from wearing religious symbols such as crosses, hijabs, turbans and yarmulkes. This not only affects people currently working in the public sector, but also the youth who aspire to those careers.
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Fill Up On Free Speech 

The Ontario legislature passed a law that forces gas station owners to put up stickers with the government party line on pollution pricing or the carbon tax. The government should not force anyone to share their message. If the station owners choose to not put up the stickers, they can be handed a new fine every day. That’s called “compelled political speech.” That’s unconstitutional.

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Racial Profiling

Canadian police detain thousands of racialized persons in suspicionless roadside stops each year. These police powers enable racial profiling and we believe they are unconstitutional.
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Protecting Reproductive Rights 

A New Brunswick regulation restricts access to abortion unless done in approved hospitals, even though this restriction is not medically necessary or justified. The New Brunswick law has createD a serious issue for New Brunswick women, girls and trans people who need access to abortion, a basic form of health care.

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Fighting Strip Searches

In 2001, the Supreme Court of Canada called strip searches “one of the most extreme exercises of police power” and “inherently humiliating and degrading”. So why has Canada’s federal prison system carried out hundreds of thousands of unnecessary strip searches since then? These are not trivial intrusions. Canadians serving sentences are forced to undergo highly invasive searches in low-risk situations, such as leaving a secure area, or even upon release from prison. These searches can inflict severe psychological trauma, particularly for those with a history of being abused. We’re asking the federal government to end these harmful practices.

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Fighting Solitary Confinement

Solitary confinement is the practice of confining someone in conditions of extreme isolation. Getting the practice ruled unconstitutional has been a major goal of both CCLA and BCCLA.  We went to Canada’s highest court for a showdown with the federal government.

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Toronto's Smart City 

Waterfront Toronto contracted with Google’s sibling Sidewalk Labs to create a smart city project in downtown Toronto. This project would be a sensor-laden neighbourhood, collecting data on people who live, work, or visit the area. Losing the ability to be a face in the crowd, and so much of our privacy, is what’s at stake. So we launched a legal action to reset the project.

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Detasking Toronto Police Report

CCLA Partners on Report, entitled Rethinking Community Safety – A Step Forward For Toronto, urging City of Toronto to shift resources and responsibilities away from the police and towards alternative crisis response and social support mechanisms.
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Protest Rights & the G20

Canadians deserve to know why the security failed to fulfill its role to protect the right to protest, which brings together a number of basic civil liberties including freedom of expression, freedom of association and freedom of peaceful assembly.
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Strip Searches in Ontario Prisons

June 21, 2022

COVID-19

Stay up to date with all the latest work that CCLA is doing to monitor the response to COVID-19, ensuring it’s based on science and is not unnecessarily intrusive to our liberties.

Bill 21

Bill 21 is a law which disproportionately impacts people who are already marginalized. New Quebec laws ban Canadians working as teachers, lawyers, police officers, and more from wearing religious symbols such as crosses, hijabs, turbans and yarmulkes. This not only affects people currently working in the public sector, but also the youth who aspire to those careers.

Fill Up On Free Speech

The Ontario legislature passed a law that forces gas station owners to put up stickers with the government party line on pollution pricing or the carbon tax. The government should not force anyone to share their message. If the station owners choose to not put up the stickers, they can be handed a new fine every day. That’s called “compelled political speech.” That’s unconstitutional.

Racial Profiling

Waterfront Toronto contracted with Google’s sibling Sidewalk Labs to create a smart city project in downtown Toronto. This project would be a sensor-laden neighbourhood, collecting data on people who live, work, or visit the area. Losing the ability to be a face in the crowd, and so much of our privacy, is what’s at stake. So we launched a legal action to reset the project.

Reproductive Rights

Bill 21 is a law which disproportionately impacts people who are already marginalized. New Quebec laws ban Canadians working as teachers, lawyers, police officers, and more from wearing religious symbols such as crosses, hijabs, turbans and yarmulkes. This not only affects people currently working in the public sector, but also the youth who aspire to those careers.

Fighting Strip Searches

In 2001, the Supreme Court of Canada called strip searches “one of the most extreme exercises of police power” and “inherently humiliating and degrading”. So why has Canada’s federal prison system carried out hundreds of thousands of unnecessary strip searches since then? These are not trivial intrusions. Canadians serving sentences are forced to undergo highly invasive searches in low-risk situations, such as leaving a secure area, or even upon release from prison. These searches can inflict severe psychological trauma, particularly for those with a history of being abused. We’re asking the federal government to end these harmful practices.

Fighting Solitary Confinement

Solitary confinement is the practice of confining someone in conditions of extreme isolation. Getting the practice ruled unconstitutional has been a major goal of both CCLA and BCCLA. We went to Canada’s highest court for a showdown with the federal government.

Toronto’s Smart City

Waterfront Toronto contracted with Google’s sibling Sidewalk Labs to create a smart city project in downtown Toronto. This project would be a sensor-laden neighbourhood, collecting data on people who live, work, or visit the area. Losing the ability to be a face in the crowd, and so much of our privacy, is what’s at stake. So we launched a legal action to reset the project.

Detasking Toronto Police

Waterfront Toronto contracted with Google’s sibling Sidewalk Labs to create a smart city project in downtown Toronto. This project would be a sensor-laden neighbourhood, collecting data on people who live, work, or visit the area. Losing the ability to be a face in the crowd, and so much of our privacy, is what’s at stake. So we launched a legal action to reset the project.

Protest Rights & the G20

The Ontario legislature passed a law that forces gas station owners to put up stickers with the government party line on pollution pricing or the carbon tax. The government should not force anyone to share their message. If the station owners choose to not put up the stickers, they can be handed a new fine every day. That’s called “compelled political speech.” That’s unconstitutional.

Latest Briefs and Updates

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CCLA Reacts to Bill 21

February 29, 2024
MONTREAL — Today the Court of Appeal has issued a disappointing decision rejecting the constitutional challenge…

Extending the use of Notwithstanding Clause in Bill 21 is a grave injustice

February 13, 2024
TORONTO — Harini Sivalingam, Director of the Equality Program at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association,…

Inequitable Access to Abortion Services in New Brunswick Puts Lives at Risk

February 2, 2024
TORONTO — Harini Sivalingam, Director of the Equality Program at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, reacted to…

Emergencies Act FAQs

January 26, 2024
Why did CCLA take the federal government to court to challenge its use of the…

Emergency is Not in the Eye of the Beholder: Federal Court Grants Victory to CCLA in Emergencies Act Challenge

January 23, 2024
TORONTO — The Federal Court of Canada has just issued its decision allowing the Canadian…

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

January 23, 2024
Noa Mendelsohn Aviv, executive director of the CCLA, said their win sets a clear and…

CCLA Intervenes in Mathur Case

October 17, 2023
CCLA has been granted leave to intervene in the Mathur v His Majesty the King…

CCLA Calls for Immediate Reforms to Prison Strip Searches in Ontario, Implementation of Body Scanners as Alternative

August 28, 2023
TORONTO — The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) is demanding the Government of Ontario fix significant…

Decision in Taylor v. Newfoundland Case

August 17, 2023
On May 11, 2020, CCLA sent a letter to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador…

CCLA Reaction to Public Order Emergency Commission

February 17, 2023
February 17, 2023 Cara Zwibel, Director of Fundamental Freedoms for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association…

CCLA Notches Legal Victory Against Government in Emergencies Act Case

February 14, 2023
February 14, 2023 Toronto, ON — The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) is announcing a…

CCLA releases Ebook: Civil Liberties & the Emergencies Act

February 14, 2023
Read the final submissions of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association to the Public Order Emergency…

CCLA Closing Statement at Public Order Emergency Commission

November 25, 2022
OTTAWA — Cara Zwibel, Director of Fundamental Freedoms for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), made the…

CCLA reacts to Prime Minister Trudeau’s testimony at POEC

November 25, 2022
OTTAWA — Cara Zwibel, Director of Fundamental Freedoms for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), made the…

CCLA reacts to Minister Freeland’s testimony at POEC

November 24, 2022
OTTAWA — Cara Zwibel, Director of Fundamental Freedoms for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), made the…

CCLA reacts to Minister Lametti’s testimony at POEC

November 23, 2022
OTTAWA — Cara Zwibel, Director of Fundamental Freedoms for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA),…

CCLA reacts to Minister Mendicino’s testimony at POEC

November 22, 2022
OTTAWA — Cara Zwibel, Director of Fundamental Freedoms for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), made the…

CCLA Reacts to CSIS’ Testimony at POEC

November 21, 2022
OTTAWA — Cara Zwibel, Director of Fundamental Freedoms for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), made the…

Emergency is Not in the Eye of the Beholder

November 18, 2022
OTTAWA — Cara Zwibel, Director of Fundamental Freedoms for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA),…

Statement on Federal Court decision re: Ontario Premier/Deputy Premier summons to appear before Public Order Emergency Commission

November 7, 2022
The Federal Court’s decision confirms that the Public Order Emergency Commission had the legal authority…

Huge Victory Against Racial Profiling in Quebec Superior Court

October 26, 2022
MONTREAL — The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (“CCLA”), as a party intervening in the case…

Landmark Racial Profiling Decision – Unofficial English Translation – Quebec Superior Court (select passages)

October 25, 2022
UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION of Joseph-Christopher Luamba (Plaintiff) v Attorney General of Québec and Attorney General of…

Huge Victory Against Racial Profiling: Decision from Quebec Superior Court

October 25, 2022
Huge victory against racial profiling in Quebec! We were very happy to work in support…

Statement on Ford Seeking Judicial Review

October 24, 2022
OTTAWA — Cara Zwibel, Director of Fundamental Freedoms for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), made the…

Premier Ford Must Testify

October 20, 2022
OTTAWA — Cara Zwibel, Director of Fundamental Freedoms for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), made the…

Statement on Public Order Emergency Commission Proceedings of October 17-18

October 18, 2022
OTTAWA — Cara Zwibel, Director of Fundamental Freedoms for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), made the…

Statement on Public Order Emergency Commission Proceedings of October 14

October 14, 2022
OTTAWA — Cara Zwibel, Director of Fundamental Freedoms for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA),…

Rouleau Warns of Tight Timelines, But Government Took Maximum Amount of Time to Appoint Commissioner

October 13, 2022
OTTAWA — The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) made its opening statement at the Public Order Emergency…

BBC News: Freedom Convoy: Trudeau to testify at Emergencies Act inquiry

October 13, 2022
"The protests needed to be addressed but the government also had an obligation to comply…

Government Had Other Options Than The Emergencies Act

October 12, 2022
OTTAWA — The Government of Canada had options other than the emergencies act, the Canadian…

Federal Court Releases Decision on Cabinet Confidences Motion

September 1, 2022
Abby Deshman, Director of the Criminal Justice program for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, made…

CCLA REACTS TO ACS-LÉGER STUDY ON EFFECTS OF BILL 21

August 10, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 10, 2022 CCLA REACTS TO ACS-LÉGER STUDY ON EFFECTS OF BILL…

CCLA in Federal Court, Fighting to Hold Government Accountable for Unprecedented Emergencies Act Use

August 8, 2022
CCLA is in federal court today to protect meaningful judicial review of government action.  The…

CCLA Demands Immediate Repeal of Regulations Limiting Abortion Access in NB

July 28, 2022
In the wake of the US Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade, the CCLA…

CCLA Statement at New Brunswick Rally on Abortion, Reproductive Justice, and 2SGLBTQI+ Rights

July 9, 2022
Today's ruling from the Supreme Court of the United States is an appalling step back…

Racial Profiling on Trial: an Update from the Frontlines

June 28, 2022
Last year the CCLA became involved in a constitutional challenge to the laws that grant…

CCLA Reacts to Decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization

June 24, 2022
Today's ruling from the Supreme Court of the United States is an appalling step back…

Remarques à l’occasion de l’anniversaire d’une hypocrisie – la loi 21

June 16, 2022
CIVIL LIBERTIES GROUPS SEEK LEAVE TO APPEAL BILL 21 DECISION NCCM & CCLA file an…

CCLA Reacts to Former Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly’s Comments on Invocation of the Emergencies Act

June 3, 2022
Abby Deshman, Director of the Criminal Justice program for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, made…

CCLA Response to Federal Government Announcement of Emergencies Act Inquiry

April 25, 2022
Abby Deshman, Director of the Criminal Justice program for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, made…

Civil Society Calling for Robust Inquiry Into Use of Emergencies Act

April 13, 2022
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) is joining with a diverse group of civil society…

Prison Pandemic Papers Documenting Impact of COVID-19 in Jails, Prisons & Penitentiaries Across Canada Launched

March 8, 2022
Today, the Prison Pandemic Papers were launched online, making available previously unpublished government records.

Join Us As We Stand Against Bill 21 and for Human Rights

February 24, 2022
This is a critical moment.

CCLA Reaction to the Revocation of the Declaration of Emergency

February 23, 2022
We welcome the government’s decision to revoke the proclamation of emergency – it is overdue.…

CCLA Reaction to Vote in the House

February 22, 2022
Abby Deshman, Director of Criminal Justice for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association made the following…

CCLA Will Fight Invocation of Emergencies Act in Court

February 17, 2022
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) announced today that it will pursue litigation to challenge…

Remarks From the Emergencies Act Press Release of February 2022

February 17, 2022
This week, the federal government invoked the Emergencies Act – an extreme law that has…

CCLA Statement on the Emergencies Act

February 15, 2022
The Emergencies Act can only be invoked, according to its own terms, when a situation…

CCLA’s Statement on Quebec’s Tax Proposal

January 12, 2022
Cara Zwibel, Director of Fundamental Freedoms and acting General Counsel for the Canadian Civil Liberties…

CCLA to Premier Legault: End the Curfew

January 12, 2022
The CCLA has written to Quebec’s Premier, Francois Legault, urging him to reconsider and rescind…

CCLA & NCCM file factum against Bill 21 in Quebec Court of Appeal

December 9, 2021
CCLA filed legal submissions against Bill 21 in the Quebec Court of Appeal. In this…

Youth in detention deserve better education: CCLA Research Report

November 30, 2021
CCLA’s report concludes that there are significant differences in the quality and quantity of formal…

CCLA to Minister: Choosing not to be vaccinated should not disentitle you from employment insurance

November 2, 2021
CCLA has written to Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, urging…

Fear, Loathing and the Law: Pushing the Limits of Legislating “Good” Behaviour

September 20, 2021
CCLA Essay by Cara Zwibel, Director of Fundamental Freedoms and Brenda McPhail, Director of Privacy…
COVID Vaccine Passport

FAQ: Vaccine Passports

August 17, 2021
The lines are being drawn between those who support and oppose some version of a…

CCLA Responds to Toronto Ombudsman Report, Calls for Amnesty for Unfair COVID Tickets

July 30, 2021
Our two co-authored reports on COVID-19 and law enforcement, Stay off the Grass (June 2020)…

CCLA Seeks to Appeal Nova Scotia Anti-Protest Injunction

July 19, 2021
While the injunction is no longer in force in the province, we remain concerned about…

Statement on Toronto Ombudsman’s Report

July 9, 2021
This report is a robust affirmation of the issues we have been raising since the…

Nova Scotia Attempting to Avoid Public Scrutiny

June 24, 2021
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) is concerned the Government of Nova Scotia is attempting…

Reaction To New Vaccine Passport ‘Benefits’

June 24, 2021
As Manitoba announces new “benefits” to be conferred on the fully vaccinated, the questions we…

Letter to Manitoba re: Vaccine Passports

June 17, 2021
We are writing regarding the Manitoba government’s plan to provide individuals with proof of vaccination…

Letter to Nunavut re: Travel and Self-Isolation Requirements

June 7, 2021
At the outset of the pandemic, when much was unknown, governments took a number of…

CCLA Wins First Round of Abortion Challenge In New Brunswick

June 1, 2021
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association has begun the process of taking New Brunswick to court…

City of Toronto Progress Reports on Homeless Shelters

May 31, 2021
Weekly Progress Reports, published by the City of Toronto, detailing the capacity, occupancy, and other…

CCLA to Challenge Nova Scotia’s Protest Injunction

May 28, 2021
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…

CCLA Taking Steps to Fight Nova Scotia’s Protest Injunction

May 18, 2021
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) is taking steps to fight an injunction obtained by…

CCLA Files For Public Interest Standing In New Brunswick Abortion Lawsuit

May 17, 2021
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association has begun the process of taking New Brunswick to court…

CCLA and PPMP Release New Report Examining Covid-19 Policing in the Second Wave

May 11, 2021
Canadian Civil Liberties Association and the Policing the Pandemic Mapping Project released a new report…

Letter To NS re: Travel Restrictions

May 11, 2021
Nova Scotia’s current rules unreasonably restrict fundamental mobility rights invested in Canadian citizens and permanent…

Know Your Rights for Ontarians

April 23, 2021
Knowing your rights is an important tool to help you recognize when your rights have…

CCLA Remarks on Bill 21 Judgment by the Quebec Superior Court

April 20, 2021
Today is judgment day on Bill 21. A complex decision was handed down by the…

Update on CCLA’s Challenge to Ontario’s New Regulation

April 17, 2021
"We will take yes for an answer and put this legal challenge on pause, with…

CCLA to Challenge Ontario’s “Black Friday” Regulation

April 17, 2021
“We have today retained counsel and are preparing to go to court in the coming…

Letter to NB re: Travel Restrictions

April 8, 2021
In our view, New Brunswick's current rules unreasonably restrict mobility rights guaranteed to Canadians by…

Statement on Anti-Asian Racism

April 6, 2021
Misplaced fear and ignorance feeds racism, today and yesterday. Growing up in British Columbia, the…

Canadian Rights During COVID-19: Interim Report on COVID’s Second Wave

March 30, 2021
Who cares about laws and rights during a pandemic? We do at CCLA because the…

Premier Legault—It’s Time To Drop The Curfew

March 23, 2021
The CCLA is speaking out against Premier Legault’s unjust Quebec curfew.

CCLA and Partners Release Update on COVID-19 and Prison Settings

March 19, 2021
CCLA along with its organizational partners in the Prison Pandemic Partnership is calling upon federal,…

CCLA and Partners Notch New Legal Win in Thunder Bay

March 12, 2021
Thunder Bay’s Medical Officer of Health has rescinded her February 8th Class Order targeting individuals…

CCLA Calls Out Thunder Bay’s Unconstitutional COVID-19 Order

March 8, 2021
On February 8, 2021, Thunder Bay’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. DeMille, issued a Class…

Better Safe Than Sorry is the Motto of a Police State

February 19, 2021
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…

Letter to Attorney General and Minister of Transportation re: Recently Imposed Travel Restrictions

February 8, 2021
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…

Justice Vs. Surveillance: Protecting Privacy in Smart Cities

February 5, 2021
In this episode of Justice Vs., we speak to Dr. Brenda McPhail, CCLA’s Privacy, Surveillance…

Can an Employer Force an Employee to Get a COVID-19 Vaccination?

February 4, 2021
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…

New Analysis of COVID-19 Infections Behind Bars Underscores the Need to Depopulate Prisons

February 3, 2021
CCLA, as part of its Prison Pandemic Partnership Project, is helping to track the spread…

National Coalition Calls on Government to Act to Protect Prisoners Against COVID-19

January 21, 2021
Yesterday, CCLA joined with a coalition of organizations to again call on the Canadian government…

CCLA on Ontario’s Stay-at-Home Order

January 14, 2021
“As the Ontario Government announced a 28-day stay-at-home order, what concerns us the most is…

CCLA Sounds Alarm as COVID in Prisons Reaches Unprecedented Levels

January 12, 2021
Preliminary findings released today by the Prison Pandemic Partnership, which includes the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, reveal…

CCLA Writes to David Lametti and Marc Garneau: Canadians Must be Allowed to Come Home

January 6, 2021
CCLA writing to the Government of Canada announcement of December 31, 2020 stating that, as…

Emergency Measures by Province

January 4, 2021
Public Health News in Canada: Issues and Updates

Public Health News: Emergency COVID Measures by Province

January 4, 2021
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association has been granted permission to intervene in a case in…

Whose Religious Symbols Can Shine???

December 21, 2020
In this season of darkness, the festivals of light bringing warmth and cheer may be…

CCLA Writes to BC Provincial Health Officer Regarding Religious Services

December 17, 2020
We are writing on behalf of the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) and the…

CCLA Debates Vaccine Passports on TVO.org: Our Letter that Sparked the Debate

December 14, 2020
We are writing you about the bad idea floated from an Ontario executive podium respecting…

Mandatory Vaccination Laws: What Laws?

December 10, 2020
The Charter of Rights would have something to say about a law mandating vaccinations, if…

Proof of Vaccination

December 9, 2020
Ontario’s health minister openly suggested that people who don’t have proof they’ve chosen to receive…

Ad Hoc Tribunals During Public Emergencies

December 4, 2020
We can be justifiably smug in Canada about our internationally renowned independent judiciary, in contrast…

BC Travel Restrictions Unconstitutional, No New Fines Needed

November 20, 2020
The Canadian and British Columbia Civil Liberties Associations are raising concerns about travel restrictions expected…

COVID-19 Fines Will Likely Make Pandemic Worse

November 20, 2020
On November 7, Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia’s provincial health officer, held an unusual press…

A Civil Liberties Take on Canada’s Second Wave of COVID-19 Emergency Orders

November 19, 2020
During the first wave of COVID, we were quite critical of a number of the…

COVID Shines a Light on Need for Reform of Ontario’s Child Protection System

November 19, 2020
The pandemic has amplified many of the problems with our child protection system. There have…

Hybrid Classes Raise Privacy Risks

November 18, 2020
Our organization has received several calls from teachers in your Board expressing their feelings of…

CCLA Memorandum to Ministers Responsible for Human Rights

November 10, 2020
This memorandum sets forth the Canadian Civil Liberties Association’s (CCLA) submissions for FPT Ministers responsible…

CCLA to NB: Do not Deny Students Access to Their Schools

November 10, 2020
Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) to object to the government’s unlawful treatment of students from…

Seeking Information About the Province’s Self-Isolation Order for Persons Entering Manitoba

October 30, 2020
The province of Manitoba currently has a self-isolation requirement for individuals entering the province from…

Why Mobility Rights Continue to Matter

October 28, 2020
Why we’re appealing the decision of the Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court of a few…

Superior Court Rules that the City of Toronto failed to protect the homeless.

October 15, 2020
The Ontario Superior Court ruled that the City of Toronto failed to comply with a…

CCLA Will Sue New Brunswick Over Abortion Restrictions

October 15, 2020
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association has begun the process of taking New Brunswick to court…

CCLA Wins Fight for Homeless Against City

October 15, 2020
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association and coalition partners have won a lawsuit agains the City…

CCLA Says Governing by Press Release, Not by Law, is COVID Governance by Stealth

October 14, 2020
In a letter dated October 14, we wrote to the Attorney General of Ontario over…

Guess Who’s Coming to Thanksgiving Dinner, Quebec?

October 12, 2020
The Quebec government has put the police on the frontlines of the pandemic and placed…

Quebec Doubles Down on Its Punitive Approach to COVID

October 5, 2020
Quebec’s new COVID restrictions are simultaneously strict and bewildering. Millions of Quebeckers in the ‘red…

The City of Toronto Breached the Agreement to Protect Those Experiencing Homelessness

September 30, 2020
The City of Toronto breached the agreement to protect those experiencing homelessness, and we are…

Inaccurate, Unreliable, Dysfunctional: A Glimpse Into Ontario’s Now-Defunct COVID Database for Police

September 30, 2020
In the spring the Ontario government launched a database of COVID test results, with the…

City breached agreement to protect homeless

September 29, 2020
The City of Toronto is putting the lives of those experiencing homelessness as well as…

Statement to Select Special Public Health Act Review Committee, Legislative Assembly of Alberta

August 27, 2020
Founded in 1964, the CCLA is a national, independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to furthering…

CCLA Statement of Support for Abortion Rights & LGBTQ+ Healthcare Now Protest

August 27, 2020
The role of the government is to protect the health of its citizens. It is…

Ontario Government Revokes Emergency Order

August 17, 2020
The Ontario government has ended police access to a COVID-19 database after CCLA and partners…

Bill 195: Ontario’s Power Grab

July 20, 2020
The Ontario government is trying to end the legal state of emergency and simultaneously hold…

CCLA & Partners Launch Action to Stop Ontario Government’s Disclosure of COVID Status to Police

July 16, 2020
The CCLA has joined with Aboriginal Legal Services (ALS), the Black Legal Action Centre, and…

CCLA to Ontario MPPs: Resist the Premier’s Undemocratic Power Grab

July 10, 2020
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…

Class Action Launched re Illegal Strip Searches

July 7, 2020
A major class action is being launched today on behalf of Canadians illegally strip searched…

Coalition Calls on Government to Release COVID Information on Ontario Jails

July 7, 2020
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…

Homelessness Advocates Take City Back to Court over COVID-19 Shelter Crisis

July 6, 2020
Homelessness advocates are taking the City of Toronto back to court, to enforce the City’s…

Contact Tracing App in Canada: To Download or Not

July 3, 2020
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…

On Mandatory Masks

June 26, 2020
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…

Let’s Not Forget, We Won

June 26, 2020
June 25th was supposed to be Decision Day, the day Sidewalk Labs and Waterfront Toronto would…

Stay Off the Grass: COVID-19 and Law Enforcement in Canada

June 23, 2020
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…

How Long Can We Live in a State of Emergency?

June 19, 2020
Some provinces and territories took longer than others to declare a legal emergency, begging the…

The Canadian Contact Tracing Experiment Begins

June 18, 2020
A social experiment in technologically-assisted tracking for public health purposes is about to being in…

CCLA Writes to YT: Mobility Rights and Travel to Yukon

May 28, 2020
We are writing you regarding the constitutionality and impact of the Border Control Measures (COVID-19)…

A Crisis is a Terrible Time to Legislate

May 27, 2020
There are two kinds of emergency management legislation: those legislated after a crisis is over,…

No Mask, No Service? Not so Fast.

May 27, 2020
When the Premier of Ontario was asked last week on a teleconference whether merchants can…

Privacy, Access to Information, and You: The COVID-19 Edition

May 26, 2020
As we flounder about looking for ways out of the COVID-19 climate of fear, and…

CCLA Writes to NU: Mobility Rights and Travel to Nunavut

May 26, 2020
Regarding mobility rights, pursuant to section 6(2) of the Charter, individuals may take up residence…

“Immunity Passports”: a New Journey to Inequality

May 26, 2020
As we flounder about looking for ways out of the COVID-19 climate of fear, and…

CCLA Writes to NWT: Mobility Rights and Travel to Northwest Territories

May 26, 2020
Regarding mobility rights, pursuant to section 6(2) of the Charter, individuals may take up residence…

CCLA In The Supreme Court: Mobility Rights

May 22, 2020
Originating Application Before The Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador

There Are No Provincial Borders in Canada

May 21, 2020
The COVID19 provincial and territorial border closures are proving Mackenzie King’s truism that “Canada is…

CCLA and Coalition Partners Help Toronto’s Homeless Population

May 19, 2020
The City of Toronto has finally committed to enforceable physical distancing standards across its shelter…

CCLA Writes to PEI: Mobility Rights and Travel to PEI

May 19, 2020
Regarding mobility rights, pursuant to section 6(2) of the Charter, individuals may take up residence…

CCLA Writes to NB: Mobility Rights and Travel to New Brunswick

May 15, 2020
We are writing you regarding New Brunswick’s recently renewed and revised Mandatory Order related to…

CCLA Writes to NL: Reconsider Travel Ban and Bill 38

May 12, 2020
Pursuant to a Special Measure issued by the Chief Medical Officer of Health (Special Measures…

CCLA and Partners File Legal Case Against the Correctional Service of Canada

May 12, 2020
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association and its coalition partners have filed a constitutional challenge to…

Promoting Health, Not Authoritarianism

May 1, 2020
Hundreds of epidemics have afflicted humankind. Few rivaled smallpox, which was easily spread and often…

Government Censorship and Pandemic “Mis”Information

April 28, 2020
Canada can flatten the curve without flattening free speech. Government censorship is hardly a public…

Children and Parents Belong Together, Especially During a Pandemic

April 24, 2020
It has come to our attention that many Children’s Aid Societies have effectively cancelled all…

CCLA Defends Toronto’s Homeless Population

April 24, 2020
Toronto has failed to protect homeless people in its over-crowded shelter and respite system –…

CCLA Questions Ottawa Policing

April 24, 2020
Ignorance of the law is ordinarily an invalid defence. But nothing is ordinary about a…

CCLA to Ontario: Clarify How People Can Fight Fines

April 24, 2020
Two days ago we wrote to the Ontario government about the fact that people are…

CCLA and Partners Question Government on Decision to Share COVID-19 Test Results with Police

April 23, 2020
Last week police services across Ontario quietly got access to a new database – a…

CCLA to Ontario: Fix COVID Tix Process

April 23, 2020
Currently, under section 9 of the Provincial Offences Act, an individual is deemed not to…

Letter to Correctional Service of Canada

April 22, 2020
We express our deep concern regarding the health and well-being of the inmates and staff…

Too Many COVID Charges, Too Many Tickets, Too Many Fines.

April 21, 2020
Too many COVID charges, too many tickets, too many fines. It’s a public health crisis,…

CCLA with Coalition Warns Legal Action Against City of Toronto for Failure to Support Homeless People

April 21, 2020
Toronto has failed to protect homeless people in its over-crowded shelter and respite system –…

Data Surveillance by Canadian Governments as COVID Response: CCLA’s Privacy Protection Prescription

April 20, 2020
We are writing you about the use of technologically-mediated surveillance as a public health response…

CCLA to Northwest Territories Chief Public Health Officer

April 20, 2020
We are concerned in particular with the prohibitions on public and private outdoor gatherings contained…

The Albertan Government Covers its Tracks and Grabs Power in Bill 10

April 14, 2020
The Albertan government has capitalised on the confusion of the coronavirus crisis to cover up past mistakes and to grant…

CCLA to Nunavut: Concerns Restricting Gatherings

April 8, 2020
We have grave concerns that the order is unconstitutional. While we appreciate that public health…

Pandemic Policing Has Taken a Punitive Turn in Ottawa

April 7, 2020
Being a mature democratic country with a constitutional bill of rights means that instant, mass…

CCLA to Ottawa: Stop Overpolicing During a Pandemic

April 6, 2020
Firstly, we are receiving a large number of reports from the public that your police…

CCLA to Attorney General: Concerns About Carding Under Emergency Order

April 3, 2020
As you know concerns about carding, racial and social profiling led to a serious crisis…

Physical Distancing Shouldn’t Preclude Public Dissent

April 3, 2020
Remember protest and dissent? It is hard to believe that just six weeks ago the…

Drastic Action Needed; Protect Incarcerated, Correctional Workers & Broader Communities

April 2, 2020
A Letter from CCLA to All Provinces and Territories: New Brunswick

CCLA to Provinces & Territories: Drastic Action Needed Now

April 2, 2020
CCLA to Provinces and Territories: CCLA has written to government ministers across the country to…

Carding in a Pandemic

April 2, 2020
While we certainly understand the enormity of the pandemic, and of the province’s task in…

CCLA to CACP: Transparency in Emergency Police Powers is Needed

April 2, 2020
I am writing to urge that the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police take an…

Freedom Fighting During a Pandemic

April 2, 2020
Go read Leonard Cohen’s “Moving Into a Period” in his Book of Longing. Cohen foresaw…

CCLA’s Urgent COVID Response for Toronto Homeless Population

March 29, 2020
We are writing you about actions and omissions by the City of Toronto with respect…

CCLA to Federal Attorney General and Federal Governor General

March 26, 2020
I am writing about the failure of Canada to disclose its Governor in Council orders…

Emergency Powers and Transparency

March 25, 2020
For civil libertarians, invoking emergency legislation is usually considered no-no. As a civil rights watchdog…

CCLA to NS Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing: What’s Your Plan?

March 24, 2020
We are writing regarding the Direction under a Declared State of Emergency that you recently…

Public Health, Pandemics and Privacy

March 20, 2020
Technology can be used as a tool to support human health and dignity, or to…

Democratic Hygiene Amid Tough Talk by NFLD Health Minister

March 19, 2020
On 18th March 2020, Newfoundland Health Minister John Haggie, held a press conference to announce…

Update on Air Travel Restrictions for Canadians Returning Home

March 19, 2020
CCLA asked the feds for more timely transparency by releasing their interim Cabinet orders for…

Emergency Orders Declared Across The Country

March 19, 2020
Emergency management orders can be made by federal, provincial, and municipal levels of government, where…

Protecting the Forgotten During Canada’s Response to Coronavirus: The Jailed

March 19, 2020
Canada must protect those who are often forgotten in a crisis: legally innocent people held…

Balancing Public Health with the Rights of Canadians

March 19, 2020
CCLA speaks to various media outlets across the country to discuss the importance of upholding…

CCLA Wants to Bring Canadians Home. Now.

March 19, 2020
The federal government announces that symptomatic Canadians stuck abroad will be able to come back…

What are the Human Rights Implications of Quarantine Orders?

March 19, 2020
Public officials must ensure that the quarantined have adequate living conditions and the effective right…

Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Quarantine Law

March 12, 2020
This post discusses the civil liberties implications of the coronavirus quarantines taking place in 2020…

Statement On The Reset Of The Quayside Project

March 7, 2020
Today’s news that Sidewalk Labs has withdrawn from pursuing the project is a victory for…

Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Appeal by Government against CCLA’s Challenge of Solitary Confinement Laws

February 13, 2020
Today, the Supreme Court of Canada issued its decision granting the government of Canada leave…

2020 Quebec Superior Court

December 20, 2019
Suspending Bill 21 is an urgent matter. We were before the Quebec Court of Appeal…

Seeking to Appeal Interim Decision on Bill 21

July 23, 2019
CIVIL LIBERTIES GROUPS SEEK LEAVE TO APPEAL BILL 21 DECISION NCCM & CCLA file an…

CCLA Joins Rights Groups Challenging Mass Surveillance In Europe

July 10, 2019
Following last year’s victory in which the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) found the…

Attorney General of Canada V. Corporation of The Canadian Civil Liberties Association Factum

June 28, 2019
Attorney General Of Canada V. Corporation of The Canadian Civil Liberties Association Factum

CCLA v. Waterfront Toronto, et. aI: Public Court Documents

June 24, 2019
CCLA v. Waterfront Toronto, et. aI: Public Court Documents

Fighting Quebec’s Religious Symbol’s Ban – As it Unfolds

June 19, 2019
CCLA is currently challenging the discriminatory religious symbols ban, Bill 21 in Quebec alongside the…

Solitary Confinement: The Case Goes On

June 18, 2019
Canada’s solitary confinement regime is due to end on Monday but the government has sought…

CCLA In Court: Freedom of Religion

June 17, 2019
Bill 21 Constitutional Challenge and Application for Suspension of The Law

CCLA and NCCM’s Application Regarding Quebec’s Religious Symbols Ban

June 17, 2019
Bill 21, An Act Respecting the Laicity of the State, passed in the Quebec National…

CCLA Written Submission to Toronto City Council Executive Committee

June 6, 2019
CCLA provided a written submission to Toronto’s Executive Committee for their consideration during their recent…

CCLA Voices Concern Over Several Measures In Budget Bill

May 13, 2019
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…

CCLA Letter to Ontario Government Regarding Carbon Tax Stickers

April 30, 2019
We have put Ontario government on notice that we will challenge their unconstitutional, compelled speech…

Solitary confinement is no joking matter – and the courts are not amused – AGAIN!

April 29, 2019
The Ontario Court of Appeal has once more handed down a scathing decision to the…

Ontario Court of Appeals on Federal Governments Second Request for an Extension on Solitary Confinement

April 26, 2019
Ontario Court of Appeals on Federal Governments Second Request for an Extension on Solitary Confinement

CCLA at The Supreme Court: Privacy Lost

April 19, 2019
It’s a loss for privacy in a disappointing Supreme Court decision released April 18 in…

Canada Responds to CCLA’s Demand for Waterfront Toronto Quayside Project Reset

April 18, 2019
Canada Responds to CCLA’s Demand for Waterfront Toronto Quayside Project Reset

CCLA at SCC: Mills

April 17, 2019
CCLA at SCC: Mills

CCLA Commences Proceedings Against Waterfront Toronto

April 16, 2019
Today, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association along with co-applicant Lester Brown, commenced proceedings against Waterfront…

Demanding Our Privacy Rights Get a Seat at The Table

April 16, 2019
CCLA is going to court to reset the Waterfront Toronto/Sidewalk Labs smart city project.  A…

Carbon Tax “Notice” Requirement is Provincial Government Propaganda, Plain and Simple

April 15, 2019
Forcing an opinion on someone, or putting words in their mouth, is a violation of…

End to Solitary Confinement as We Know It

March 28, 2019
In an extraordinary decision, the Ontario Court of Appeal has ordered an end to prolonged…

CCLA at The Supreme Court: When Can The Police Arrest You to ‘Protect’ You?

March 21, 2019
How far can police officers go when initiating a “protective” arrest? Can innocent protestors be…

Open Letter from CCLA: Calling for a Reset on Waterfront Toronto

March 5, 2019
Dear Prime Minister, Premier and Mayor, We are writing to you about the Smart City initiative for the Toronto Eastern…

Privacy Wins: Jarvis Decision Confirms Privacy Rights Exist in Public Spaces

February 14, 2019
A teacher who argued at the Supreme Court that his secret filming of girls’ cleavage…

Shaving the Constitutional Tiger: Attorney General 101

February 8, 2019
As the SNC-Lavalin prosecution controversy unfolds, Canadians are digging into a part of our constitution…

The PMO has Discovered the Presumption of Innocence

February 7, 2019
SNC-Gate might be the way the Kremlin works, wherein Putin officials manipulate the justice system…

We’re not done talking about privacy in the smart city

January 24, 2019
Since Sidewalk Labs and Waterfront Toronto announced their agreement to develop a plan for a…

CCLA Wins Important Battle Against Feds On Solitary Confinement

December 17, 2018
The feds were scolded today by the Chief Justice of Ontario and its highest court,…

New Act Protects Ontarians From Release Of Unproven Allegations

December 13, 2018
Across the country, Canadians who have never been found guilty of a crime are unable to…

Auditor General To Toronto’s Smart Cities: Not So Fast

December 6, 2018
Ontario’s Auditor General this week took a provincial agency to task for its role in…

Ontario Leads The Way On Police Record Checks Reform

November 1, 2018
On November 1, 2018, the Police Records Checks Reform Act (PRCRA) comes into force.
Know your rights

What You Need To Know About The New Police Record Checks Reform Act

November 1, 2018
On November 1, 2018, the Police Records Checks Reform Act (PRCRA) comes into force. Police record checks…

Rights groups challenging solitary confinement in court release joint statement on Bill C-83

October 16, 2018
Today the three organizations fighting the federal government in BC and Ontario courts on solitary…

CCLA, INCLO and Others Welcome Historic Win Against Mass Surveillance in UK

September 14, 2018
In a landmark win for seven INCLO members, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR)…

CCLA & NCCM Successfully Obtain Renewed Stay Against Quebec’s Bill 62

June 29, 2018
The CCLA and the NCCM, two prominent civil liberties & advocacy organizations, have successfully obtained…

Keep Your Promise On Solitary Confinement, Groups Tell Ottawa

May 14, 2018
Rights groups in legal challenges unite to urge government to comply with court orders.

CCLA Court Challenge To Solitary Confinement: The Next Step

April 6, 2018
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…

When a Criminal Record Becomes a Life Sentence: John Howard Society of Ontario

February 21, 2018
(Toronto, ON) Today the John Howard Society of Ontario (JHSO) revealed the hidden but ruinous…

Legal Fight Against Solitary Confinement Continues

January 17, 2018
On December 18, 2017, Associate Chief Justice Frank Marrocco of the Ontario Superior Court released…

Court Strikes Down Solitary Confinement Regime in Response to CCLA’s Challenge

December 18, 2017
TORONTO, Ont. – In a victory for civil liberties, Associate Chief Justice Frank Marrocco of…

CCLA Segregation Challenge

September 13, 2017
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…

CCLA Calls on Court to End Solitary Confinement – Hearing Starts September 11th

September 8, 2017
TORONTO, Ont. – On September 11th, 13th, 14th and 15th, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association…

Ontario Must Curtail Segregation In Provincial Jails

May 12, 2016
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…
Know your rights

Loku Inquest Must Address Bias In Policing

May 9, 2016
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…

Government must end solitary confinement of mentally ill prisoners.

March 10, 2010
PRESS RELEASE: Canadian prisons need to drastically re-evaluate their use of solitary confinement, especially where…