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TALK RIGHTS

LEARN. SHARE. TAKE ACTION.

Talk Rights is an online space for the Canadian public to learn about their rights and freedoms. We invite you to explore our growing collection of resources, to contribute your own ideas, stories and priorities to the conversation, to ask the CCLA your burning civil liberties questions, and get involved in the CCLA’s advocacy campaigns. There’s never been a better time to join the conversation about civil liberties in Canada — so let’s talk rights!

Learn

Check out our selection of articles, videos and interviews on a range of rights issues and topics.

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Three Stories of Housing Discrimination

In Canada, there are laws in place to prevent landlords from discriminating against existing and…
April 21, 2022

Explainer: Alberta’s Controversial Critical Infrastructure Defence Act

The right to gather and protest is fundamental in a democratic society. In Canada, it’s…
April 14, 2022

Learn From an Expert: Leo McGrady, Q.C., Discusses Civil Disobedience in ‘An Age of Protest’

As part of the Talk Rights Project, the CCLA spoke with Leo McGrady about how…
April 14, 2022

How Provinces Are Using a Decades-Old Legal Tool to Create Hospital “Bubble Zones”

Some provinces have laws that create “bubble zones” around abortion clinics and are drawing on…
April 14, 2022

Living in and With Canada’s Tent Cities

News stories tend to cast tent cities/encampments in a negative light. They highlight court decisions…
April 14, 2022

Learn About Migrant Rights in Canada

Temporary foreign workers are a vital part of Canada’s workforce at many different levels, including…
April 14, 2022

In The News: National Security

Want to learn about national security issues and Canada’s national security agencies but don’t know…
March 15, 2019

Qu’est-ce que la discrimination ?

La discrimination est une action ou une décision défavorable envers une personne ou un groupe…
March 15, 2019

Vous avez des questions sur la discrimination ?

Vous trouverez ci-dessous une liste de ressources diversifiées qui vous permettra d’en apprendre davantage sur…
March 15, 2019

Qu’est-ce la liberté de religion ?

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…
March 15, 2019

La vague de migrants au Canada: Ce qu’il faut savoir

Au début de l’année 2017, l’administration Trump a annoncé son intention de mettre fin au…
March 15, 2019

Non-Citizen Voting Rights

In recent decades, the right to vote and meaningfully participate in the democratic process has…
March 11, 2019

Useful Links And Resources About National Security

Check out our growing collection of useful links and resources about privacy rights compiled by…
December 12, 2018

Ella Webber Talks Trans-Non-Binary Rights With The CCLA

This series of 12 video clips documents a conversation between CCLA volunteer Amara McLaughlin-Harris and Ella…
June 13, 2018

An Interview With Gary Malkowski, Director Of The Canadian Hearing Society

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

In The News: Canada’s Privacy Commissioner Proposes Tools To…

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

What’s A VPN? How Does It Work? And What…

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

Discrimination Against Gender Non-Conforming Individuals: Academic Sources And Debates

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…
February 12, 2018

Workplace Accessibility In Canada

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…
January 25, 2018

Gender-Based Discrimination at a Glance

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…
January 25, 2018

Voting in Canada: The First Past The Post System

Because the Learn section of TalkRights features content produced by CCLA volunteers and interviews with…
January 25, 2018

Ask The CCLA: Where Can I Go for Help as A Victim of Gangstalking?

Ask The CCLA: Where Can I Go for Help As a Victim af Gangstalking?
April 3, 2017

Peer Privacy Protectors Guidebook

The Peer Privacy Protectors Project (PPPP) was created by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association to…
March 30, 2017

Who Polices The Police? Civilian Police Oversight in Canada

Have you ever wondered who polices the police? This question sounds paradoxical but the answer…
March 20, 2017

Useful Links And Resources: Healthcare For Immigrants, Refugees And…

February 9, 2017

The State Of Mental Health In Canada

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…
February 9, 2017

10 Key Resources: Canadian Government Surveillance

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…
December 1, 2016

Consumer Tracking And Surveillance: Who Is Watching You?

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…
October 3, 2016

Protest Rights: Useful Links And Resources

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…
May 19, 2016

Canada & The UN: Conventions And Treaties

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…
May 17, 2016

Talking About Biometrics and Privacy

Have you heard about biometrics and wondered what they are or how they are used?…
July 17, 2015

Talking About Community Treatment Orders and Discrimination

In 1995, an ex-National Hockey League player Brian Smith was killed by Jeffrey Arenburg, a…
May 19, 2015

An Overview of Relevant Legislation Related to Mental Health and Disability

Looking to learn about laws connected to issues of mental health, addiction, and disability in…
May 19, 2015

Useful Links and Resources About Police Accountability

Useful Links And Resources About Police Accountability
May 19, 2015

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Change of Name for Trans Persons

This page is intended to help trans persons with issues related to changing the name…
May 19, 2015

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Change of Sex Designation For Trans Persons

This page is intended to help trans persons with issues related to changing the sex…
May 19, 2015

Useful Links and Resources About Privacy Rights

Check out our growing collection of useful links and resources about privacy rights, including related…
May 16, 2015

Useful Links and Resources Related to Discrimination on The Basis of Disability or Mental Health

Check out our growing collection of useful links and resources about mental health and disability…
May 16, 2015

Useful Resources for People With Disabilities Related to Employment and Access

In December 2013, David Lepofsky addressed a room full of lawyers at the Advocates’ Society’s…
May 13, 2015

Legal Resources, Clinics, and Referral Information

Below you’ll find a list of organizations across Canada that provide legal support, information, advice…
May 11, 2015

Cases & Laws (formerly Current Issues)

Read about topical legal cases and recent or new legislation, broken down by our volunteers to identify key provisions and identify rights issues that arise.

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Three Stories of Housing Discrimination

In Canada, there are laws in place to prevent landlords from discriminating against existing and…
April 14, 2022

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS): Past And Present

Canada’s national security interests have been enforced by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) since…
March 15, 2019

Un bref historique sur l’article 33 de la Charte canadienne

Mieux connu sous les noms clause dérogatoire ou clause nonobstant, l’article 33 de la Charte…
March 15, 2019

An Overview of The Criminalization of HIV Non-Disclosure

Being convicted of an offense in the Criminal Code has the potential for imprisonment. Because…
March 15, 2019

Medical Assistance In Dying (Former Bill C-14)

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

The Genetic Non-Discrimination Act: An Overview

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

Cell Phones And Canadian Courts: Some Recent Cases

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

“Cyberspace Law” And Web Privacy Violations

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…
March 12, 2018

Gender Identity and The Human Rights Act (Former Bill C-16)

Since its tabling in 2016, Bill C-16 (whose official title is An Act to Amend…
March 12, 2018

How Do Us Privacy Laws Impact Canadians?

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…
February 21, 2018

R. V. Spencer: Keeping Your Digital Identity Private

Every time you retrieve any digital resource, your computer tells the Internet your digital location…
April 13, 2017

Bill 87: Protecting Patients Act, 2017

The government of Ontario is currently considering Bill 87: An Act to Implement Health Measures…
April 12, 2017

Guide Pour Bien Comprendre Le Droit De Vote Au Canada

February 9, 2017

Supreme Court: Implied Consent For “Less Sensitive” Information Under…

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…
November 28, 2016

Canada & The UN: In The News

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) will challenge the Government of Nova Scotia’s exceptionally broad injunction limiting…
May 19, 2016

Understanding Bill C-44: The Protection of Canada From Terrorists Act

Bill C-44 (the “Bill”), which was sponsored by the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency…
May 19, 2015

CSIS and Your Rights: What You Need to Know

CSIS is Canada’s spy agency. CSIS collects and analyzes information and security intelligence within Canada…
May 19, 2015

Understanding Bill C-51 in Canada: The Anti-Terrorism Act, 2015

Bill C-51 (the “Bill”), which was sponsored by the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency…
May 19, 2015

Understanding Bill C-24 and Recent Changes to The Citizenship Act

Bill C-24 An Act to amend the Citizenship Act and to make consequential amendments to…
May 19, 2015

Understanding Bill C-50, The Citizen Voting Act

Bill C-50 (“the Bill”), also called the Citizen Voting Act, is sponsored by the Minister…
May 13, 2015

Understanding Bill C-36, The Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act

In 2013, the Supreme Court of Canada decided Canada (Attorney General) v. Bedford. In Bedford,…
May 13, 2015

Meet Our Volunteers

CCLA is grateful for the contributions of the following volunteers.

Current Volunteers for 2021/2022

  • Nadia Ahmed
  • Gina Azer
  • Charlotte Kelso
  • Emily Chan

Past Volunteers

  • Adil Abdulla
  • Melanie Adamsons
  • Amena Ali
  • Andrea Anderson
  • Erik Arsenault
  • Marie Aspiazu
  • Neil Bhatt
  • Chelsea Bland
  • Marie-Pierre Boudreau
  • Dora Chan
  • Laurent Crépeau
  • Angela Danko
  • Khisnika Dassoruth
  • Nicholas Ettinger
  • Daniel Del Gobbo
  • Christine Gorgi
  • Stephanie Figliomeni
  • Alannah Fotheringham
  • Edwidge Gedna
  • Fernando Gonzales
  • Myles Goodman
  • Mark Gulla
  • Christopher Hogg
  • Amy Jazienicki
  • David Jol
  • Rahul Kaushal
  • Garrett Lafferty
  • Victor Lakoff
  • Alexander Langer
  • Sékou Michel Loua
  • Connor W. Macorin
  • Annie Macdonald
  • Hudson Manning
  • Chris Mantelos
  • Oksana Maskulka
  • Benjamin Mayer-Goodman
  • Alan McCallum
  • Joseph Morin
  • Ashley Naipaul
  • Kimvy Ngo
  • Michael Ochotta
  • Daniel C. Park
  • Allison Render
  • Kerrin Rodrigues
  • Ben Roizes
  • Daanish Samadmoten
  • Nadia Sayed
  • Zack Shefman
  • Brenna Slawish
  • Eric Suderman
  • Delana Tavakol
  • Alexandra (Sasha) L. Toten
  • Mayooran Thevaraja
  • Heather Warren
  • Emma White
  • Mary Wong

The TalkRights project was funded with generous support from the Canadian Internet Registration Authority’s Community Investment Program. We thank CIRA for their recognition of the importance of civil liberties advocacy and education in Canada. The site is updated and expanded by law student volunteers from across Canada through a National Project with the Pro Bono Students Canada.