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.
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.
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
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.
VIEW CASE
Our Work for Equality of Race, Religion and Ethnicity
CCLA Strongly Condemns Passage of Quebec’s Bill 9
CCLA Strongly Condemns Passage of Quebec’s Bill 9
CCLA Questions University Of Alberta Move To Eliminate EDI Commitments In Hiring
CCLA Questions University Of Alberta Move To Eliminate EDI Commitments In Hiring
Supreme Court Affirms Substantive and Intersectional Equality in Kanyinda Decision
Supreme Court Affirms Substantive and Intersectional Equality in Kanyinda Decision
CCLA Files Submission on Quebec’s Bill 9
CCLA Files Submission on Quebec’s Bill 9
Ending Special Envoy Roles Risks Abandoning Communities Facing Rising Hate
Ending Special Envoy Roles Risks Abandoning Communities Facing Rising Hate
Quebec’s Bill 9 Is a Direct Attack on the Fundamental Freedoms of All Quebecers
Quebec’s Bill 9 Is a Direct Attack on the Fundamental Freedoms of All Quebecers
Quebec’s Bill 9 Masks Discrimination as Secularism
Quebec’s Bill 9 Masks Discrimination as Secularism
L’ACLC co-signe une lettre ouverte condamnant l’adoption du projet de loi 94
L’ACLC co-signe une lettre ouverte condamnant l’adoption du projet de loi 94
Quebec Government’s Announced Daycare Ban Deepens Bill 21’s Legacy of Exclusion
Quebec Government’s Announced Daycare Ban Deepens Bill 21’s Legacy of Exclusion
Choisir l’inclusion et non l’assimilation: Lettre ouverte sur les projets de loi 84 et 94 du Québec
Choisir l’inclusion et non l’assimilation: Lettre ouverte sur les projets de loi 84 et 94 du Québec
CCLA on The Advocates’ Society’s Recent Decision
CCLA on The Advocates’ Society’s Recent Decision
CCLA Warns Quebec Bill 84 Threatens Social Cohesion, Calls for Meaningful Consultation
CCLA Warns Quebec Bill 84 Threatens Social Cohesion, Calls for Meaningful Consultation
CCLA Ready to Defend Landmark Racial Profiling Decision
CCLA Ready to Defend Landmark Racial Profiling Decision
Unanimous Court of Appeal Judgment Upholds Landmark Racial Profiling Decision in Quebec
Unanimous Court of Appeal Judgment Upholds Landmark Racial Profiling Decision in Quebec
CCLA Intervening in S.D. v District School Board of Niagara
CCLA Intervening in S.D. v District School Board of Niagara
CCLA Calls on the Ontario Speaker to Lift His Ban on Keffiyehs
CCLA Calls on the Ontario Speaker to Lift His Ban on Keffiyehs
CCLA intervening in major case on police background checks at Court of Appeal for Ontario
CCLA intervening in major case on police background checks at Court of Appeal for Ontario
Extending the use of Notwithstanding Clause in Bill 21 is a grave injustice
Extending the use of Notwithstanding Clause in Bill 21 is a grave injustice
Freedom of Expression, the Right to Protest, and Academic Freedom in a Time of Crisis
Freedom of Expression, the Right to Protest, and Academic Freedom in a Time of Crisis
NCCM and CCLA Continue to Challenge Quebec’s School Prayer Ban
NCCM and CCLA Continue to Challenge Quebec’s School Prayer Ban
NCCM AND CCLA LAUNCH JOINT CHALLENGE TO QUEBEC GOVERNMENT’S BAN ON PRAYERS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
NCCM AND CCLA LAUNCH JOINT CHALLENGE TO QUEBEC GOVERNMENT’S BAN ON PRAYERS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
CCLA Submission on Anti-Black Racism at the Canadian Human Rights Commission
CCLA Submission on Anti-Black Racism at the Canadian Human Rights Commission
CCLA Reacts to Quebec Directive on Prayer Spaces in Public Schools
CCLA Reacts to Quebec Directive on Prayer Spaces in Public Schools
Court agrees with CCLA that police background checks require oversight
Court agrees with CCLA that police background checks require oversight
Huge Victory Against Racial Profiling in Quebec Superior Court
Huge Victory Against Racial Profiling in Quebec Superior Court
Landmark Racial Profiling Decision – Unofficial English Translation – Quebec Superior Court (select passages)
Landmark Racial Profiling Decision – Unofficial English Translation – Quebec Superior Court (select passages)
Huge Victory Against Racial Profiling: Decision from Quebec Superior Court
Huge Victory Against Racial Profiling: Decision from Quebec Superior Court
CCLA and LEAF Urge Repeal of Discriminatory Newmarket By-Law
CCLA and LEAF Urge Repeal of Discriminatory Newmarket By-Law
Human Rights Tribunal Finds Police DNA Sweep was Discriminatory
Human Rights Tribunal Finds Police DNA Sweep was Discriminatory
CCLA argues against expanded police detention powers at Supreme Court
CCLA argues against expanded police detention powers at Supreme Court
La lutte contre le profilage racial se poursuit devant les tribunaux et dans les communautés
La lutte contre le profilage racial se poursuit devant les tribunaux et dans les communautés
Racial Profiling on Trial: an Update from the Frontlines
Racial Profiling on Trial: an Update from the Frontlines
Trial Begins in Major Constitutional Challenge Targeting Racial Profiling
Trial Begins in Major Constitutional Challenge Targeting Racial Profiling
Know Your Rights Guide: Racial Profiling and Police Stops
Know Your Rights Guide: Racial Profiling and Police Stops
CCLA Launches Latest Tool to Combat Carding & Racial Profiling
CCLA Launches Latest Tool to Combat Carding & Racial Profiling
CCLA & NCCM file factum against Bill 21 in Quebec Court of Appeal
CCLA & NCCM file factum against Bill 21 in Quebec Court of Appeal
CCLA Intervenes in Court Challenge Against Racial Profiling
CCLA Intervenes in Court Challenge Against Racial Profiling
Massage Parlours in Newmarket
Massage Parlours in Newmarket
CCLA & NCCM Appealing Bill 21 Decision
CCLA & NCCM Appealing Bill 21 Decision
CCLA Remarks on Bill 21 Judgment by the Quebec Superior Court
CCLA Remarks on Bill 21 Judgment by the Quebec Superior Court
Statement on Anti-Asian Racism
Statement on Anti-Asian Racism
Manitoba Law Society “Good Character” Process Undermines Truth and Reconciliation, Diversity and Equality
Manitoba Law Society “Good Character” Process Undermines Truth and Reconciliation, Diversity and Equality
Race and Criminal Injustice Report: Q and A by CCLA Special Advisor, Anti-Black Racism, Professor Akwasi Owusu-Bempah
Race and Criminal Injustice Report: Q and A by CCLA Special Advisor, Anti-Black Racism, Professor Akwasi Owusu-Bempah
CCLA Partners on Report Urging Toronto to Detask Police
CCLA Partners on Report Urging Toronto to Detask Police
Whose Religious Symbols Can Shine???
Whose Religious Symbols Can Shine???
CCLA Memorandum to Ministers Responsible for Human Rights
CCLA Memorandum to Ministers Responsible for Human Rights
CCLA Wins Fight for Homeless Against City
CCLA Wins Fight for Homeless Against City
Inaccurate, Unreliable, Dysfunctional: A Glimpse Into Ontario’s Now-Defunct COVID Database for Police
Inaccurate, Unreliable, Dysfunctional: A Glimpse Into Ontario’s Now-Defunct COVID Database for Police
Ontario Government Revokes Emergency Order
Ontario Government Revokes Emergency Order
CCLA & Partners Launch Action to Stop Ontario Government’s Disclosure of COVID Status to Police
CCLA & Partners Launch Action to Stop Ontario Government’s Disclosure of COVID Status to Police
Coalition Calls on Government to Release COVID Information on Ontario Jails
Coalition Calls on Government to Release COVID Information on Ontario Jails
CCLA and Coalition Partners Help Toronto’s Homeless Population
CCLA and Coalition Partners Help Toronto’s Homeless Population
CCLA Defends Toronto’s Homeless Population
CCLA Defends Toronto’s Homeless Population
CCLA and Partners Question Government on Decision to Share COVID-19 Test Results with Police
CCLA and Partners Question Government on Decision to Share COVID-19 Test Results with Police
CCLA with Coalition Warns Legal Action Against City of Toronto for Failure to Support Homeless People
CCLA with Coalition Warns Legal Action Against City of Toronto for Failure to Support Homeless People
CCLA to Attorney General: Concerns About Carding Under Emergency Order
CCLA to Attorney General: Concerns About Carding Under Emergency Order
Carding in a Pandemic
Carding in a Pandemic
CCLA’s Urgent COVID Response for Toronto Homeless Population
CCLA’s Urgent COVID Response for Toronto Homeless Population
2020 Quebec Superior Court
2020 Quebec Superior Court
Seeking to Appeal Interim Decision on Bill 21
Seeking to Appeal Interim Decision on Bill 21
Fighting Quebec’s Religious Symbol’s Ban – As it Unfolds
Fighting Quebec’s Religious Symbol’s Ban – As it Unfolds
CCLA In Court: Freedom of Religion
CCLA In Court: Freedom of Religion
CCLA and NCCM’s Application Regarding Quebec’s Religious Symbols Ban
CCLA and NCCM’s Application Regarding Quebec’s Religious Symbols Ban
Victory at The Supreme Court: A Fight for Everyone’s Right to Privacy and Equality (R v. Le)
Victory at The Supreme Court: A Fight for Everyone’s Right to Privacy and Equality (R v. Le)
CCLA at the Supreme Court: The Worst Carding Case in Canadian History?
CCLA at the Supreme Court: The Worst Carding Case in Canadian History?
Federal Court Overturns Abdoul Abdi Deportation
Federal Court Overturns Abdoul Abdi Deportation
CCLA & NCCM Successfully Obtain Renewed Stay Against Quebec’s Bill 62
CCLA & NCCM Successfully Obtain Renewed Stay Against Quebec’s Bill 62
Free Abdoul Abdi!!! CCLA Fighting For Equality Rights In Halifax Today
Free Abdoul Abdi!!! CCLA Fighting For Equality Rights In Halifax Today
Bill 62 (Niqab Ban) Guidelines Cannot Save An Unconstitutional…
Bill 62 (Niqab Ban) Guidelines Cannot Save An Unconstitutional…
Historic, Ground-Breaking Decision On Criminal Sentencing Of African-Canadians
Historic, Ground-Breaking Decision On Criminal Sentencing Of African-Canadians
CCLA Writes An Open Letter To Minister Of Immigration…
CCLA Writes An Open Letter To Minister Of Immigration…
State Responsible to Stop Deportation and Grant Citizenship Of Abdoul Abdi
State Responsible to Stop Deportation and Grant Citizenship Of Abdoul Abdi
CCLA and NCCM Launch Legal Challenge Against Quebec’s Bill 62
CCLA and NCCM Launch Legal Challenge Against Quebec’s Bill 62
CCLA in The Supreme Court: Freedom of Religion
CCLA in The Supreme Court: Freedom of Religion
Quebec Bill 62 Infringes on Freedom of Religion and Equality
Quebec Bill 62 Infringes on Freedom of Religion and Equality
CCLA Announcement: Coalition Calls for Implementation of Loku Inquest Recommendations
CCLA Announcement: Coalition Calls for Implementation of Loku Inquest Recommendations
How Religious Teachings in Public Schools Violates Human Rights: Joint Presentation Before Argentina’s Supreme Court
How Religious Teachings in Public Schools Violates Human Rights: Joint Presentation Before Argentina’s Supreme Court
Statement on Release of New U.S. Travel Restrictions
Statement on Release of New U.S. Travel Restrictions
Canada Has Its Own Legacy of Racist Policies to Confront
Canada Has Its Own Legacy of Racist Policies to Confront
Contact Your MP: Ask Canada to Act on US Travel Ban
Contact Your MP: Ask Canada to Act on US Travel Ban
CCLA calls for concrete action from Canadian government on U.S. travel ban
