Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms, along with provincial and territorial human rights laws provide for the right to equality and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, and religion.

Yet minority groups who seem different than the majority or mainstream on the basis of their race, ethnicity or religion have to deal with various forms of discrimination in Canada. For example, Black, Indigenous, and other racialized individuals may experience racial profiling and disproportionately harsh treatment by police and the criminal system including higher rates of use of force through to disproportionate placement in solitary confinement. Religious minorities – and in particular Muslim women who wear hijab and niqab –may experience suspicion and harassment not just on the street, but also through legal channels, such as when trying to testify as a witness, or go to work as teachers or judge in Quebec.

Jason Hill Case: A Supreme Court Victory

We were present in the case of Jason Hill, who was investigated by the police for suspicion that he had committed 10 robberies. Although the evidence against Jason was flimsy and partially constructed by police, he was arrested and spent over 20 months in jail before he was acquitted.

While two Hispanic men were identified by witnesses as having committed the crimes, police arrested Jason, an Aboriginal man who insisted he was innocent.

During a suspect line up, Jason was put beside 11 Caucasian “suspects” and identified as the culprit, as the persons suspected of the crime were also people of colour. As a result of negligent investigation practices, racial profiling and institutional racism, Jason was arrested, tried, and wrongfully convicted.

 

After he was acquitted, Jason sought to hold the police accountable for his treatment and we stood with him. We argued that the police are not immune from liability under the law of negligence and that police officers owe a duty of care to suspects. The Supreme Court found the police department negligent in their investigation and in breach of Jason’s rights as the evidence in support of his innocence was ignored and led to his wrongful conviction.

We believe that profiling and the targeting of visible minorities is discrimination and against our fundamental human rights.
Our Recent Cases and Reports

View our latest work and activity.

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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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.

Our Work for Equality of Race, Religion and Ethnicity

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CCLA intervening in major case on police background checks at Court of Appeal for Ontario

February 15, 2024
The Court of Appeal for Ontario has granted leave to intervene to the CCLA in…

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,…

Freedom of Expression, the Right to Protest, and Academic Freedom in a Time of Crisis

November 11, 2023
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) recognizes that in times of crisis, it is all…

NCCM and CCLA Continue to Challenge Quebec’s School Prayer Ban

July 17, 2023
MONTREAL — The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA)…

NCCM AND CCLA LAUNCH JOINT CHALLENGE TO QUEBEC GOVERNMENT’S BAN ON PRAYERS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS 

May 26, 2023
(Montreal, Quebec)—The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), and…

CCLA Submission on Anti-Black Racism at the Canadian Human Rights Commission

May 15, 2023
Harini Sivalingam (Director of Equality Program) delivered the following statement to the Senate Human Rights…

CCLA Reacts to Quebec Directive on Prayer Spaces in Public Schools

April 24, 2023
TORONTO — Harini Sivalingam, Lawyer and Director of the Equality Program at the Canadian Civil…

Court agrees with CCLA that police background checks require oversight

March 9, 2023
On February 27, 2023, the Divisional Court in Ontario released its decision in Khorsand v.…

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…

CCLA and LEAF Urge Repeal of Discriminatory Newmarket By-Law

September 1, 2022
CCLA and the Women’s Legal Education & Action Fund (LEAF) sent a letter to Newmarket’s…

Human Rights Tribunal Finds Police DNA Sweep was Discriminatory

August 23, 2022
Earlier this week the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal ruled that the Ontario Provincial Police (“OPP”)…

CCLA argues against expanded police detention powers at Supreme Court

August 10, 2022
CCLA is intervening in a case before the Supreme Court to argue that the police…

La lutte contre le profilage racial se poursuit devant les tribunaux et dans les communautés

July 7, 2022
POUR DIFFUSION IMMÉDIATE LA LUTTE CONTRE LE PROFILAGE RACIAL SE POURSUIT DEVANT LES TRIBUNAUX ET…

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…

Trial Begins in Major Constitutional Challenge Targeting Racial Profiling

May 30, 2022
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) is joining with a diverse group of civil society…

Know Your Rights Guide: Racial Profiling and Police Stops

December 17, 2021
Learn more about your rights.

CCLA Launches Latest Tool to Combat Carding & Racial Profiling

December 13, 2021
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) today released their next salvo in the fight against…

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…

CCLA Intervenes in Court Challenge Against Racial Profiling

July 20, 2021
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) is intervening in a constitutional challenge before the Superior Court…

Massage Parlours in Newmarket

June 21, 2021
CCLA wrote a letter to the Town of Newmarket expressing our concerns with proposed amendments…

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…

Statement on Anti-Asian Racism

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

Manitoba Law Society “Good Character” Process Undermines Truth and Reconciliation, Diversity and Equality

March 17, 2021
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association sent a brief to the Manitoba Law Society asking it…
Commuter reading the paper while waiting for a train

Race and Criminal Injustice Report: Q and A by CCLA Special Advisor, Anti-Black Racism, Professor Akwasi Owusu-Bempah

March 10, 2021
CCLA Special Advisor on Anti-Black Racism, Professor Akwasi Owusu-Bempah, recently sat down for a Q+A…

CCLA Partners on Report Urging Toronto to Detask Police

January 4, 2021
A new report released this morning is urging the City of Toronto to shift resources…

Whose Religious Symbols Can Shine???

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

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 Wins Fight for Homeless Against City

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

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…

Ontario Government Revokes Emergency Order

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

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…

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…

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 Defends Toronto’s Homeless Population

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

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 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 –…

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…

Carding in a Pandemic

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

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…

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…

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…

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…

Victory at The Supreme Court: A Fight for Everyone’s Right to Privacy and Equality (R v. Le)

May 31, 2019
Victory! Today, the Supreme Court rendered a monumental decision recognizing that police carding in a…

CCLA at the Supreme Court: The Worst Carding Case in Canadian History?

May 30, 2019
On Friday May 31st, the Supreme Court of Canada is going to release its decision…

Federal Court Overturns Abdoul Abdi Deportation

July 16, 2018
CCLA’s voice was heard and recognized in the Federal Court decision released in the case…

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…

Free Abdoul Abdi!!! CCLA Fighting For Equality Rights In Halifax Today

June 19, 2018
Free Abdoul Abdi!! The CCLA is in court today fighting the deportation of child refugee…

Bill 62 (Niqab Ban) Guidelines Cannot Save An Unconstitutional…

May 11, 2018
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…

CCLA Writes An Open Letter To Minister Of Immigration…

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

State Responsible to Stop Deportation and Grant Citizenship Of Abdoul Abdi

January 11, 2018
We are writing on behalf of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association with respect to Mr.…

CCLA and NCCM Launch Legal Challenge Against Quebec’s Bill 62

November 7, 2017
(Montreal – November 7, 2017) – The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) and the National…

CCLA in The Supreme Court: Freedom of Religion

November 3, 2017
Bill 62 Application for Judicial Review (Declaration of Invalidity) and Application for an Interim Stay

Quebec Bill 62 Infringes on Freedom of Religion and Equality

October 17, 2017
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…

CCLA Announcement: Coalition Calls for Implementation of Loku Inquest Recommendations

October 3, 2017
The tragic shooting death of Andrew Loku should never have occurred. It took place within…

How Religious Teachings in Public Schools Violates Human Rights: Joint Presentation Before Argentina’s Supreme Court

August 30, 2017
On Wednesday, August 30, the Argentine Supreme Court held a public hearing on the constitutionality…

Statement on Release of New U.S. Travel Restrictions

March 6, 2017
The CCLA is still seriously concerned by the potential impact on refugees and asylum seekers…

Canada Has Its Own Legacy of Racist Policies to Confront

February 21, 2017
Canadians are shocked and grieving after Sunday’s shooting at a Quebec City mosque that killed…

Contact Your MP: Ask Canada to Act on US Travel Ban

February 4, 2017
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…

CCLA calls for concrete action from Canadian government on U.S. travel ban

January 29, 2017
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…