The BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) and other Victoria lawyers are trying to challenge Victoria's bylaws which prevent homeless people from sleeping outside in tents and other shelters. BCLAA argues that the bylaws violate Charter rights of the homeless and Canada's international obligations. Read a CBC story about the court challenge,"Homeless have right to tent in parks, Victoria lawyer argues" and a press release from BCLAA, Civil Liberties Association granted leave to intervene in important homeless rights case (in PDF).

The PIVOT Legal Society has started to hand out Tenant Rights cards (in PDF) to Downtown Eastside tenants. PIVOT hopes the cards can help tenants navigate interactions with landlords but PIVOT warns that there is not much legal protection for tenants. Read more about the cards on the PIVOT website.

In memory of all the missing and murdered women and children, aboriginal women are walking from Victoria, BC to Ottawa from June to September 2008. Gladys Radek, who lost a niece to the Highway of Tears, launched the Walk4Justice to draw attention to all the missing and murdered women across Canada. The website, www.missingpeople.net has more information and links about the walk. Walk4Justice has created an online petition to gather the names of all the missing and murdered First Nations women across Canada. If you know someone who has been missing or murdered, Walk4Justice asks you to sign the online petition. Also see a Working TV video of the start of the march.