Tag: social rights

The Role of International Social and Economic Rights in the Interpretation of Domestic Law in Canada

By phrc | Published: February 1, 2008

This Law Sheet, produced by the Poverty and Human Rights Centre, is concerned with the role that international human rights law can play in the interpretation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and other laws in Canada. It is intended to assist lawyers in their advocacy work before courts and tribunals. It is [...]

Letter to the Prime Minister Paul Martin and Premier Gordon Campbell regarding the human rights obligations of federal and provincial governments with respect to social assistance, endorsed by 137 organizations (February 2004)

By phrc | Published: February 5, 2004

A letter written to Prime Minister Paul Martin and Premier Gordon Campbell asking them to act immediately, together and separately, to ensure that legislation which imposes a twenty-four month time limit on eligibility for welfare in B.C. is rescinded before April 1, 2004, and that no similar provision is implemented in B.C. or any other province in future. act immediately, [...]

Posted in Government Submissions | Also tagged British Columbia, human rights law, welfare |

The Right to Social Assistance: 14 Questions and Answers (October 2003)

By phrc | Published: October 1, 2003

British Columbia is the only province in Canada to place a time limit on welfare eligibility. From diverse perspectives, many people are concerned about the harmful results of this harsh and unprecedented new rule. This report is a response to numerous requests that the Poverty and Human Rights Project has received from concerned groups and individuals for an analysis of [...]

Posted in Law Sheets | Also tagged British Columbia, Q & As, social assistance, welfare |

B.C. CEDAW Report: British Columbia Moves Backwards on Women’s Equality

By phrc | Published: January 23, 2003

B.C. CEDAW Report: British Columbia Moves Backwards on Women’s Equality, prepared by the Poverty and Human Rights Project for 12 women’s and anti-poverty organizations in British Columbia, submitted to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on the occasion of the review of Canada’s 5th report on its compliance with the [...]

Posted in UN Submissions | Also tagged British Columbia, economic rights, United Nations, women's poverty |

Majority embraces stereotype of the poor (December 2002)

By phrc | Published: December 1, 2002

Majority Embraces Stereotype of Poor by Shelagh Day The majority decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in last week’s welfare rights case, Gosselin v Quebec, is a disturbing one. Five judges endorsed a Quebec scheme that consigned thousands of 18 to 30 year old welfare recipients to extreme poverty, and found that it did not harm the human dignity [...]

Posted in Commentary | Also tagged Gosselin v. A.G. Québec, human rights law, poverty, welfare |

Recommendations to Heritage Canada regarding information that should be included in Canada’s 4th report to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (October 2001)

By phrc | Published: October 25, 2001

A letter from the Poverty and Human Rights Project to Heritage Canada on four issues which are of critical importance to the overall approach taken by Canada as a State Party to the implementation of economic and social rights in response to a request for input from non-governmental organizations into Canada’s fourth report on its compliance with the International Covenant on [...]

Posted in Government Submissions | Also tagged Canadian government, domestic human rights law, economic rights |