LEAF is best known for its interventions at the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) in cases regarding the “substantive” equality rights of women and girls in Canada. However LEAF’s specialized, legal expertise produces high quality research that has influenced policy reform across health, social and justice systems. In this way, since its founding in 1985, LEAF has stopped discrimination not only through interventions in the courts but also through the production of many key papers and submissions.  Each contains research and analysis on a topic, or topics, pertinent to equality rights.

LEAF’s expertise and case history is used by legislators, policy makers, and organizations as a catalyst for change and as a resource in the development and reform of laws and policies. Our litigators and researchers are frequently called upon to offer expertise in policy areas such as social benefits, criminal justice, reproductive rights, and violence against women – nationally and internationally.

LEAF papers and submissions (most recent appears first)

• LEAF and West Coast LEAF submission to the Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs opposing Bill C-10 (mandatory minimum sentences)(February 27, 2012).

• Submission to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development on Ending Sex Discrimination in the Status Provisions of the Indian Act, Bill C-3 (April 26, 2010)

• Submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights on the Prohibition of Hate Speech under s.13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act (December 18, 2009)

• Submission- on Pay Equity to the House of Commons Status of Women Committee(June 5, 2009)

• Submission – to the Canadian Human Rights Commission on a proposed Canadian human rights report card prototype (May 22, 2009)

• Submission – of LEAF and LEAF Edmonton on the length of service requirement for maternity and parental leave under the Canadian Labour Code (May 19, 2009)

• Statutory Human Rights and Substantive Equality – Why and How to Avoid the Injury of the Law Approach (March 5, 2007)

• Submission to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights regarding Bill C-10 (November 20, 2006)

• Submission to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Right regarding the Elimination of the Court Challenges Program (October 27, 2006)

• Gosselin Impact Study (July 12, 2006)

• The Application of Religious Law in Family Law Arbitration Across Canada (April 2006)

• Submission of LEAF and LEAF Edmonton on Maternity and Parental Leave Provisions of the Canada Labour Code (October 28, 2005)

• LEAF and the Law Test for Discrimination: An Analysis of the Injury of Law and How to Repair it (November 2004)

• Civil Legal Aid paper (August 2003)

• Self Defence in Criminal Law and Related Aspects of the Administration of Criminal Justice: An equality rights perspective (November 17, 2001)

• Provocation – Background and consultation paper (December 1999)

• Submission to the Canada Human Rights Act Review Panel (November 1999)

• Submission to the The Royal Commission on Workers Compensation (January 30, 1998)

• Bill S-5: An Act to Amend the Canadian Human Rights Act, LEAF brief submitted to Standing Committee (November 26, 1997)

• Bill C-46: An Act to Amend the Criminal Code after the Decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in O’Connor – 1995. LEAF brief submitted to Standing Committee (March 1997)

• West Coast Leaf Submission (Guaranteed Available Income for Need – GAIN) (February 1996)

• Submission on Federally Sentenced Aboriginal Women and The Healing Lodge (1995)

• Submission on the Classification of Federally Sentenced Women (1995)

• Submission on Proposed Cross-Gender Staffing at the New Regional Institutions for Federally-Sentenced Women (1995)

• Submission to Minister of National Revenue – Canada Customs’ seizure of lesbian and gay materials (September 1994)

• LEAF and Pornography: Litigation on Equality and Sexual Representations – Position paper regarding follow-up to Butler decision (September 1993)

• Litigation for Lesbians – LEAF’s Report on Consultations with the Lesbian Community (June 1992)

• Submission to Ontario Women’s Directorate – an examination of alternatives available to amend the Criminal Code after the decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in Seaboyer and Gayme (January 1992)

• Submission to the Legislative Committee of Parliament on Bill C-49, an Act Respecting Sexual Assault (May 1992)

• Submission to the Legislative Committee Parliament on the constitutional validity of Bill C-42, An Act Respecting Abortion (January 1990)

• Submission to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the response of the Newfoundland criminal justice system to complaints (Hughes Commission): Treatment of sexual assault of women and children by the criminal justice system (June 1990)

• Submission to the Standing Committee on Human Rights and the Status of Disabled Persons concerning the future of the Court Challenges Program (October 1989)

• Submission to the Senate of Canada on the Meech Lake Constitutional Accord (March 1988)

• Submission to the Standing Committee of the Secretary of State Women’s Program – transcript of oral submission only (March 1987)

• Submission to the Ontario Task Force on Mandatory Retirement (Ianni Commission) about the impact of mandatory retirement on Women (March 1987)

• Submission to Special Senate Committee on National Defence regarding OSSOMM – right to organize and needs of spouses of members of the Canadian Armed Forces (June 12, 1986)

• Submission to the Department of Justice about reform of the Canadian Human Rights Act (June 1986)

• Submission regarding interventions at the Supreme Court of Canada (June 1986)

• Submission to the Canadian Human Rights Commission concerning the Commission’s policy guidelines about Pregnancy and Childbirth Discrimination (October 1986)

• Submission to the Standing Committee of the Administration of Justice concerning Bill 7 and The Family Benefits Act (February 1986)

• Submission to the Boyer Committee on the review of Federal Laws and Regulations for compliance with the Charter – transcript of oral submission only (April 17, 1985)