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Home / Cases and Law Reform / Our Work
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Our Work

LEAF is best known for its interventions at the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC), and appellate courts throughout the country, in cases regarding “substantive” gender equality rights 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.

Cases and Law Reform
  • Our Work
  • Issue Areas
    • Reproductive Justice
    • Indigenous Rights and Law
    • Identity-Based Oppression
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  • Search Cases & Submissions
  • Current Work
    • Basic Income Project
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  • Past Projects
  • Legal Resources
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    Issue Areas

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    Access to Justice

    LEAF has acted to secure and deepen access to justice for women and girls across issues and legal arenas

    Family Law

    Over 50 percent of the issues and cases brought to LEAF’s attention involve some aspect of family law

    Gender-Based Violence

    Acts of violence against someone based on their gender identity, gender expression or perceived gender

    Hate Speech and Online Hate

    Hate speech violates the dignity rights of women and gender diverse people

    Identity-Based Oppression

    Women/individuals facing gender-based discrimination have unique experiences based on intersecting identities

    Indigenous Rights and Law

    Gender equality can’t be achieved without addressing the past & ongoing harms of colonialism, racism & sexism

    Reproductive Justice

    LEAF’s reproductive justice advocacy focuses on ensuring that women have access to resources and support

    Sexual Assault and Consent Law

    LEAF has played a significant role in advancing Canadian sexual assault laws through a feminist equality lens

    Socio-Economic Rights

    LEAF works hard to address poverty issues and the ways that discrimination against women makes women poor

    Workplace Rights

    From pay equity to pension equality to sexual harassment, LEAF fights to end discrimination in the workplace

    Current Work

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    Current Work

    The Accountability Project

    The Accountability Project looks at how to hold governments accountable for taking steps to end GBV.
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    Current Work

    Avenues to Justice

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    Current Work

    Reproductive Justice Project

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    Current Work

    Basic Income Project

    See All Current Work

    Cases & Law

    Cases

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    UR Pride Centre for Sexuality and Gender Diversity v. Saskatchewan

    This case is about discrimination against trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse students. LEAF is intervening before the Saskatchewan Court of King's...

    Walker v. Jansen

    This case is about how courts think about the best interests of the child in family law cases, including the...

    Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) v. His Majesty the King in Right of Ontario et al

    This case is about the right to collective bargaining in the context of a law applying to feminized sectors of...

    R. v. Tsang

    Content warning: this summary includes mentions of sexual assault in the 'Facts' section. This case is about assessing evidence in...
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    Submissions

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    Saskatchewan MLAs should reject attempts to override the rights of trans and non-binary children
    Human rights and substantive equality must be front and centre in regulating Artificial Intelligence
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    News

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    LEAF is hiring a Senior Development Officer!
    Call for Proposals – Strengthening Community Capacity
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    National Office
    180 Dundas Street West, Suite 1420
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    [email protected]
    Phone: 416.595.7170
    Toll-free: 1.888.824.5323
    Facsimile: 416.595.7191

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    Stay up to date on feminist law and LEAF’s work to advance gender equality



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    National Office
    180 Dundas Street West, Suite 1420
    Toronto, ON M5G 1Z8
    [email protected]
    Phone: 416.595.7170
    Toll-free: 1.888.824.5323
    Facsimile: 416.595.7191

    Charitable Registration Number: 10821 9916 RR0001

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    Stay up to date on feminist law and LEAF’s work to advance gender equality



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    MENU

    • About
      • Our Story
      • Mission & Vision
      • Staff
      • Board
      • Law Program Committee
      • FAQs
    • Cases and Law Reform
      • Our Work
      • Issue Areas
        • Reproductive Justice
        • Indigenous Rights and Law
        • Identity-Based Oppression
        • Hate Speech and Online Hate
        • Sexual Assault and Consent Law
        • Gender-Based Violence
        • Access to Justice
        • Workplace Rights
        • Socio-Economic Rights
        • Family Law
      • Search Cases & Submissions
      • Current Work
        • Basic Income Project
        • LEAF’s Feminist Strategic Litigation Project
        • LEAF’s Technology-Facilitated Violence (TFV) Project
        • National Abortion Access Framework
        • Reproductive Justice Project
      • Past Projects
      • Legal Resources
    • Education
      • Overview
      • Workshops, trainings & webinars
      • Factsheets & infographics
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      • Search Publications
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      • LEAF Thunder Bay
      • LEAF Toronto
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    • Get Involved
      • Ways to Get Involved
      • Donate to LEAF
      • Join a Branch
      • Volunteer
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