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Blog

R v Ellis at the BC Court of Appeal: Fighting for a New Approach to Sentencing in Drug Trafficking Offences

On December 29, 2021, we were thrilled to receive an affirming decision from the BC Provincial Court in the case of R v Ellis. Alongside Sarah Runyon of Marion & Runyon, we successfully argued a departure from BC’s steep sentencing range of 18-36 months for street-based drug trafficking offences involving fentanyl. Rather than serve up to 3 years in jail, our client Tanya Ellis was instead able to access the health supports she wanted and to focus on raising her children. Despite our government’s routine claims to support evidence-based, health-focused drug policy, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada quickly appealed the decision. That means we will be at the BC Court of Appeal defending the provincial court decision on May 26, 2022.
By Caitlin Shane Caitlin Shane | May 23, 2022 | Blog, Drug Policy Reform

Surveillance is not safety: Vancouver must drop City Council CCTV motion

Daniella Barreto and Meenakshi Mannoe encourage Vancouver City Council to firmly oppose any calls for the expansion of CCTV in our communities.
By Daniella Barreto Daniella Barreto | Apr 26, 2022 | Criminalization and Policing, Blog

BC Director of Police Services overrules City Council's decision, restoring $5.7 million to VPD.

Next week, City Council will receive the Report on the Vancouver Police Board Budget Increase. We’re asking our allies to sign up to speak or write in support of Council Member Jean Swanson’s Motion “Rejecting the Increase to the 2021 Police Budget.”
By Meenakshi Mannoe Meenakshi Mannoe | Apr 08, 2022 | Criminalization and Policing, Blog

The 1st anniversary of the VPD killing of Chester

Today marks the 1st anniversary of the VPD killing of Chester. This year, Pivot is supporting members of the Defund 604 Network and VANDU, who are coming together to mark the first anniversary of his murder.
By Meenakshi Mannoe Meenakshi Mannoe | Jan 05, 2022 | Criminalization and Policing, Blog

Call for ongoing donations to Wet’suwet’en & Gitxsan land defenders

Call for donations due to the recent raids and arrests of Indigenous land defenders at the unarmed Gidimt’en checkpoint to address the legal costs of the individuals going to court.
By Sozan Savehilaghi Sozan Savehilaghi | Dec 13, 2021 | Blog

BC vs. Vancouver: A Comparison of Decriminalization Models

BC and Vancouver have each applied to decriminalize simple drug possession. Neither model is perfect, but how do they compare?
By Caitlin Shane Caitlin Shane | Dec 09, 2021 | Blog, Drug Policy Reform

R v Ellis: A New Frontier for Sentencing Drug Trafficking Offences

BC Provincial Court’s recent decision of R v Ellis marks a departure from harsh sentencing ranges for street-based fentanyl dealers. We know that a different approach is needed—the Court listened.
By Caitlin Shane Caitlin Shane | Dec 07, 2021 | Blog, Drug Policy Reform

Renewing calls to defund the police and resource communities

Meenakshi Mannoe & Kit Rothschild want City of Vancouver to reinvest 50% of the police budget into community-led crisis response and peer-led systems of care.
By Meenakshi Mannoe Meenakshi Mannoe | Nov 30, 2021 | Criminalization and Policing, Blog

Defunding the VPD is an investment in public safety and collective well-being

Researcher and policy analyst Chuka Ejeckam distinguishes public safety from police spending, as these concepts are often conflated.
By Chuka Ejeckam Chuka Ejeckam | Nov 29, 2021 | Criminalization and Policing, Blog, Data Visualizations

Power, control & erosion of rights: the politics of BC’s complex care “housing”

Nicole Luongo outlines the pitfalls of the “Complex Care housing” model that is widely-touted by provincial and municipal governments in BC
By Nicole Luongo Nicole Luongo | Nov 03, 2021 | Blog, Homes For All
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Pivot Legal Society is located on stolen lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples. We are grateful to Indigenous Peoples for their continuous relationship with their lands and are committed to learning to work in solidarity as accomplices in shifting the colonial default. 

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