Community Safety Reimagined

This guide is meant for teachers to become familiar with the Right to Protest Learning Unit, which is designed to introduce students to protections for the right to protest found in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and discusses why this right is necessary in democracies. Examples of laws that limit the right to protest are also provided, along with a case study illustrating the conflict between protest rights and a municipal bylaw created in response to the 2012 student protests in Quebec.

The Learning Unit ends with an opportunity for students to discuss what, in their opinion, is the appropriate balance between the right to protest and public order.

Focus Of The Report

The report focuses on several areas of community safety, including but not limited to:

  • Racism and policing
  • Homelessness
  • Mental health
  • Youth
  • Gender-based violence
Rethinking Community Safety – A Step Forward For Toronto
DOWNLOAD THE REPORT
Opportunities For Action

Addressing systemic discrimination and other issues with policing requires our ongoing, diligent, and dedicated efforts. The areas of activity outlined in this report provide an immediate opportunity to begin to move to models that better serve marginalized communities—reallocate resources to support vulnerable people, improve community safety, and produce better outcomes in the short and long term. Toronto should take action on them now. Read the report for the full list of our recommendations.

Our Latest Work and Updates

Filter

AllAccess to InformationArbitrary DetentionArtificial IntelligenceBill 21Bill 28Border TechnologyCases and LawsCCPA (Bill C-11)Community SupervisionConditions of ConfinementConstitutional RemediesCOVID-19COVID-19 & Law EnforcementCOVID-19 & PrisonsCRIMINAL JUSTICECriminal Prohibitions on SpeechCriminal Records & Collateral ConsequencesCriminal Records & Police Record ChecksCriminal Records & Police Record ChecksCruel & Unusual PunishmentDeaths in CustodyDecriminalizationDeescalation & Use of ForceDefamationDemocratic RightsDetasking PoliceDevice SearchesDisabilityDNA ForensicsEDUCATIONElection FinanceEmergencies ActEmergencies Act NewsEQUALITYFace SurveillanceFair Trial RightsFair Trial, Due Process & SentencingFighting Compelled Political SpeechFighting Solitary ConfinementFreedom of AssociationFreedom of ExpressionFreedom of ReligionFreedom of the PressFUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMSGET INFORMEDGuidesIN THE NEWSINCLOIndigenous PeopleInformation SharingIntelligence & CybersecurityInternet Privacy and SpeechLearnLGBTQ2S+MAJOR CASES & REPORTSMass SurveillanceMobilityNational SecurityNB Abortion RightsNot Criminally ResponsibleOntario Private Sector LegislationOpen CourtsPIPEDAPODCASTPolice Coercion & EntrapmentPolice Powers, Use of Force & Police AccountabilityPolice Transparency, Oversight & AccountabilityPolitical AdvertisingPRESS RELEASESPresumption of InnocencePrisons, Jails & Community SupervisionPRIVACYPrivacy ActPrivacy During COVIDPrivacy Law ReformProsecutorial MisconductProtecting JournalistsRace, Religion & EthnicityRacial ProfilingReasonable Expectations of PrivacyRefugees & ImmigrationRegulation of Online ExpressionRight to CounselRight to ProtestRight to Reasonable BailRight to SilenceSafe SheltersSearch & SeizureSearch & SeizureSentencingSex Offender RegistriesSmart CitiesSocial MediaSocio-Economic StatusSolitary ConfinementStrip SearchesSurveillance & PrivacySurveillance & TechnologySurveillance CapitalismTalk RightsToronto's Smart CityTravel ScreeningUncategorizedUnreasonable Search & SeizureVaccine PassportsVOLUNTEERVoting RightsWomenYouth

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

February 24, 2022
This is a critical moment.

CCLA to Hamilton Police: Cease and Desist Drone Program

June 7, 2023
TORONTO — The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) is demanding the Hamilton Police Service (HPS) immediately…

CCLA Submission on Political Parties and Privacy Law

May 26, 2023
Daniel Konikoff (Interim Director of the Privacy, Technology & Surveillance program) and Tashi Alford-Duguid (Staff…

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…

SLAPPs, Speech, and Standing Up for Equality

May 23, 2023
CCLA appears before the Supreme Court of Canada in key defamation case of Hansman v…

CCLA Reacts to Bill C-48

May 17, 2023
TORONTO — Shakir Rahim, Director of Criminal Justice for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), reacted…

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 OIPC (BC) Announcement on Liberal Party of Canada’s Use of FRT

April 26, 2023
TORONTO —Tashi Alford-Duguid, Staff lawyer at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) made the following…

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…

CCLA Fighting to Protect Freedom of Association for All Workers at the Supreme Court of Canada

April 12, 2023
The CCLA is intervening before the Supreme Court of Canada in a case that will…

CCLA Fighting for Transparency and Openness before the Supreme Court

April 12, 2023
The CCLA is intervening at the Supreme Court of Canada in Ontario v. Information and…

CCLA Reacts to R v McColman Decision

March 27, 2023
OTTAWA — Shakir Rahim, Director of Criminal Justice for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA),…

CCLA speaks out on guiding principles for Canada’s upcoming online safety proposal

March 21, 2023
CCLA has joined with 12 other civil society organizations to release a joint statement addressed…

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.…

CCLA Reacts to Working Families Decision

March 6, 2023
OTTAWA — Cara Zwibel, Director of Fundamental Freedoms for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), reacted to…

Read our op-ed inspired by Freedom to Read Week by Cara Zwibel, Director, Fundamental Freedoms Program

February 24, 2023
Last Spring Sotheby’s auction house sold off a copy of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale…

Police-involved deaths on the rise across Canada

February 23, 2023
CCLA welcomes the launch of a publicly accessible online database tracking police-involved deaths across Canada.…

Press Release: Police-involved deaths on the rise across Canada

February 23, 2023
Publicly accessible living online database tracking police-involved deaths launched Database website: https://trackinginjustice.ca/ Ottawa, Ontario –…

Supreme Court Dodges Key Issue in R. v. McGregor

February 21, 2023
A majority of the Supreme Court of Canada in R. v. McGregor opted not to…

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…

Guest Blog: Artificial Intelligence Developers Must Ensure Commitment to Meaningful Consent

February 14, 2023
Jonathan A. Obar, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication & Media…