Canadian Civil Liberties Association

A recent Ontario court decision recognizing homelessness as an analogous ground of discrimination under the Charter has sparked debate about the role of the courts in advancing equality rights. In this article, Harini Sivalingam argues that the ruling is not an example of judicial activism, but rather a reflection of the Charter‘s purpose: protecting those who face systemic disadvantage and exclusion. Recognizing the realities faced by unhoused people is an essential step toward ensuring that constitutional equality rights extend to those who need them most.

You can find a link to the article here.

Op-Ed: Recognizing Homelessness as a Ground of Discrimination Advances Justice - CCLA Open-ended powers and social media ban for children under 16 in Bill C-34, the Social Media Safety Act, threaten civil liberties.

CCLA has filed its intervention factum in Saskatchewan v. UR Pride Centre for Sexuality and Gender Diversity – the first Supreme Court of Canada case to directly address anti-trans legislation in Canada’s history.

Read more here.

CCLA Intervenes at the Supreme Court in Canada's First Anti-Trans Legislation Case - CCLA The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) has filed its intervention factum in Saskatchewan v. UR Pride Centre for Sexuality and Gender Diversity – the first Supreme Court of Canada case to directly address anti-trans legislation in Canada's history.

CCLA joins other members of the National Employment Equity Council in calling on the Government of Canada to strengthen the newly established Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion by ensuring meaningful Black representation and explicitly recognizing anti-Black racism within its mandate.

Read more here.
https://ccla.org/press-release/ccla-endorses-calls-for-black-representation-and-explicit-recognition-of-anti-black-racism-on-new-advisory-council

Each year, the Canadian Civil Liberties Education Trust (CCLET) presents a nation-wide high school essay/video contest to commemorate the work of Bernard Chernos, a dedicated civil libertarian, lawyer and lover of lively debate. The Bernard Chernos Contest makes a great ready-made assignment for a wide range of social studies courses, and winners will receive cash prizes of up to $750!

A link to submit entries, and more information about the contest, can be found here: https://cclet.org/contests.

The deadline to enter is May 25nd, 2026 @ 11:59PM EST – we look forward to receiving your entries!