Public Interest Law Centre

Language Rights: Significant Court of Appeal Decision

November 23, 2009 – The Manitoba Court of Appeal has released its decision in the R. v. Rémillard et al. matter, confirming the City's obligation to provide bilingual municipal services in the designated district, in particular with respect to the French language obligations of the City of Winnipeg Police Service.

For more information, please read:

• le communique de presse en francais.
• the press release in English.

Housing crisis for low-income people

The plight of two Bannerman Avenue dwellings highlights the housing crisis faced by low income Winnipeggers, in particular people with disabilities living on social assistance.

The Public Interest Law Centre commissioned a report from the Institute of Urban Studies which confirms the deepening housing crisis in Winnipeg.

Fact sheet: Housing Highlights

Report by Susan Mulligan: An Examination of Rental and Social Housing in Winnipeg: Residents' Perceptions on their Housing Condition.

Payday loan hearings

• Download the report (3.5 MB PDF file)

The Manitoba Society of Seniors, the Consumers' Association of Canada (Manitoba) and Winnipeg Harvest are challenging payday lending rates beginning Tuesday, November 13, 2007 in Winnipeg. The Public Interest Law Centre is representing the three groups before the Public Utilities Board beginning at 9 a.m.

Evidence filed at the Public Utilities Board reveals a person in Winnipeg taking out a $250 payday loan for 12 days can expect to pay total fees on that loan that will range from $44 to $109. This amounts to an average Annual Percentage Rate of 778%. (The rate ranged from 535% to 1,321%). Comparatively, someone obtaining a line of credit at a bank could expect to pay between 8 % and 14%.

A number of other grassroots community groups, including the Spence Neighbourhood Association, West Central Women's Resource Centre, Community Financial Counselling Services, Credit Counselling Society, Canadian Federation of Students and Manitoba Association of Women's Shelters will also be presenting beginning Tuesday afternoon.

Media Contacts:

• Jacquie Johnson-Weight, Communications Coordinator Winnipeg Harvest 982-3484
• Lori Hunter Executive Director Manitoba Society of Seniors 942-3147 (cell:795-7335)
• Gloria Desorcy Executive Director Consumers' Association 452-2576 (cell: 998-3707)
• Diane Poulin Communications Officer Legal Aid Manitoba 985-8588

City challenged to address real causes of panhandling

On May 29, 2007, the National Anti-Poverty Organization, represented by PILC, initiated a court action against the "captive audience" provisions of the City of Winnipeg's panhandling bylaw, alleging that they are an unwarranted infringement of the rights of citizens with low incomes under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Read more:

• Press Release
• Overview of Legal Issues
• Summary of research findings
• Statement of Claim
  
• Link to Study done by Dr. Tom Carter, Canada Research Chair in Urban Change and Adaptation: Panhandling in Winnipeg: Legislation vs Support Services
  

Submission to Clean Environment Commission on Hog Industry

• Written submission to the CEC
  
• Table of Contents to the Written Submission
  
• Principles and Guidelines of Sustainable Development and Provincial Land Use Policies relevant to the Hog Industry
• Comparison of Developments under the Environment Act
  

For 25 years, a litigation ombudsman for all Manitobans.

• Download In The Public Interest: The first 25 years of the Public Interest Law Centre (PDF file)

The Public Interest Law Centre is unique in Canada. Established in 1982 as a branch of Legal Aid Manitoba, the Centre undertakes test-case litigation on behalf of individuals or groups who would be unable to protect their rights without such help.

The Centre operates arms-length from government, in order to ensure that clients will be represented fully and fearlessly, regardless of the political sensitivity of the issues.

Every year, the Centre defends the interests of thousands of people, in a wide variety of public law and policy areas:

• Public utility rates charged to consumers for telephone, cable TV, energy and auto insurance.
• Equality and accommodation for people with disabilities.
• Human Rights.
• Essential government services.
• Aboriginal and Treaty rights.
• Neighborhood and municipal land use issues.
• Environmental law.

The Manitoba Law Foundation provides a sustaining grant to the Centre. Members of the Manitoba Bar Association help support public interest law by donating professional time and funds under the "Pro Bono Public Interest Law Project".

Our Practice

Since its inception, the Centre has represented a wide variety of groups and individuals on public interest law test cases. The practice is now primarily administrative law and civil litigation, with an emphasis on Charter of Rights and aboriginal law issues.

Public Interest Law Centre counsel regularly appear at all levels of the court system, including the Queen's Bench, Manitoba Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of Canada and Federal Court of Canada, as well as before numerous boards and tribunals and legislative committees. The Centre has enjoyed considerable success in its litigation and law reform efforts on behalf of clients.

We believe that the Centre has established a reputation for responsible and effective advocacy. By limiting its caseload and selecting important issues, the Centre is able to provide its clients - usually disadvantaged or impecunious groups - with representation matching that available to our clients' adversaries.