Vancouver’s ‘downtown ambassadors’ are the target of a human rights complaint due to ‘hundreds of illegal removals’

On Monday, May 31, 2010, the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal began hearing a human rights complaint made by Pivot Legal Society and the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) against the Downtown Ambassadors program, operated by the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association and funded by the City of Vancouver.

The complaint, lodged by Pivot and VANDU in 2008, alleges that the Downtown Ambassador program repeatedly engaged in harassment and “removals” of individuals who are located on public space and who are, or appear to be, street homeless or drug users. The hearing is scheduled for three weeks. (more…)

Homeless and underhoused Ontarians launch a legal challenge against the federal and provincial governments

On Wednesday May 26, 2010 Tracy Heffernan, a staff lawyer for the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario, launched a legal challenge on behalf of a group of five applicants, charging that homelessness and inadequate housing harms people, and that the failure of governments to provide adequate housing violates Section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees everyone the right to life, liberty and security. (more…)