TORONTO – Pro bono lawyers representing the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will be appearing at the Ontario Court of Appeal today as intervenors in Jacob v Canada (Attorney General) to protect the rights of workers with disabilities.
This legal challenge concerns the $5000 income eligibility threshold and exclusion of disability benefits as an eligible income source for qualification to receive COVID benefits. The Appellants argue that these restrictions discriminate against workers with disabilities.
The CCLA is intervening in this case to ensure that individuals challenging the constitutionality of laws and policies have access to meaningful remedies. Although COVID benefits programs are no longer active, there are important implications for access to justice that stem from this case if the court finds the $5000 income threshold and exclusion of disability benefits to be unconstitutional.
The CCLA will argue that it is imperative that just and meaningful remedies be made available to those who undertake the public service of challenging the constitutionality of laws and policies.
The CCLA is represented by our pro bono counsel Jennifer Hunter, Kathryn Ball, and Zahra Vaid of Lerners LLP.
Read CCLA’s factum here.
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About the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The CCLA is an independent, non-profit organization with supporters from across the country. Founded in 1964, the CCLA is a national human rights organization committed to defending the rights, dignity, safety, and freedoms of all people in Canada.
Media Contact:
media@ccla.org
About the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The CCLA is an independent, non-profit organization with supporters from across the country. Founded in 1964, the CCLA is a national human rights organization committed to defending the rights, dignity, safety, and freedoms of all people in Canada.
For the Media
For further comments, please contact us at media@ccla.org.
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