Federal government to fight solitary confinement ruling from B.C. court
VANCOUVER — The federal government is appealing a B.C. court decision that struck down Canada’s law on indefinite solitary confinement, arguing it needs clarity on the issue from the courts.
The ruling was handed down last month following a constitutional challenge by British Columbia Civil Liberties Association and the John Howard Society of Canada.
The association’s executive director, Josh Paterson, said the appeal is a surprise.
“We find it shocking that our federal government has chosen to appeal this decision when the government came into office on a promise to put an end to indefinite solitary confinement,” he said in a news release.