Legal Resources

Find websites and materials written in plain language.

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Your Personal Information

Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA)
This resource provides basic information about your rights to access the personal information public and private bodies hold about you. It includes what to do before, during, and after you file to receive your personal information.
Last reviewed July 2024
Logo featuring the letters FIPA, the words "your data your rights" and small coloured squares representing pixels.

Privacy and Access to Information

Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA)
This website provides resources about privacy and access to information laws, your rights, and how to exercise your rights. Topics include your health information, your rights to access the personal information public and private bodies hold about you, and your rights to access general information that public bodies hold about you.
Last reviewed July 2024
Logo features the initials PLEO in black in the centre of outlined blue, yellow, orange, and teal circles.

Privacy Fact Sheets

PLEO: Law for Non-Profits
This resource explains what non-profits must do to create or maintain a privacy policy for the collection, use, disclosure, and retention of personal information. Topics covered include training, how to comply with Canadian Anti Spam Law (CASL), and more.
Last reviewed July 2024
Logo features a curved design in rainbow colours, including pink, blue, brown, and black, and the organization name, with a red maple leaf after the name.

LGBTQI+ Refugees in Canada — Making a Refugee Claim: Basic Steps

Rainbow Refugee
This resource explains the steps for making a refugee claim for people who have already arrived in BC. It includes links to the forms you need, and explains how to prepare for your hearing.
Last reviewed July 2024
Logo features a curved design in rainbow colours, including pink, blue, brown, and black, and the organization name, with a red maple leaf after the name.

LGBTQ+ Refugees Outside Canada — Steps for Asylum Seekers

Rainbow Refugee
This resource explains the steps for asylum seekers experiencing persecution due to their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, and/or HIV status. It outlines the process for seeking refugee protection overseas and then applying for resettlement to Canada.
Last reviewed July 2024
Logo features a line drawing of a house in blue and black, with three stick figures in yellow, green, and red. The organization name is below.

BC CHARMS (for refugee claimants)

MOSAIC
Offers important resources and services for refugee claimants in British Columbia. It helps connect refugees with settlement workers who provide information about settling into their new lives and accessing support services.
Last reviewed June 2024
Logo features the word “PIVOT” in black other than the V, which is red. Under this are the words “legal society.”

Methadone Rights Cards

Pivot Legal Society
In cooperation with BC Association of People on Methadone, Pivot has produced 15,000 methadone patient’s rights cards. Faced with systemic abuse and discrimination from unethical physicians, pharmacists, and others, methadone patients across the province are standing up for their rights.
Last reviewed March 2024
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Legal Information for People Attending Wet’suwet’en Solidarity Actions

Pivot Legal Society
A guide for people attending Wet’suwet’en Solidarity Actions so that they may be better informed when interfacing with law enforcement. This guide contains legal information on people’s rights at protests, the law of injunctions, and rights upon arrest and detention.
Last reviewed March 2024
Logo with six rectangles and a circle in six bright colours to represent people, and "People's Law School."

Dial-a-Law: Human Rights and Discrimination Protection

People’s Law School
British Columbia has a law to help protect you from discrimination and harassment. Learn what it covers, and what’s involved in making a complaint that someone has discriminated against you.
Last reviewed March 2024
Logo with six rectangles and a circle in six bright colours to represent people, and "People's Law School."

Dial-a-Law: Complaints Against the RCMP

People’s Law School
If you are concerned about an RCMP officer’s conduct, you have options, from filing a complaint to suing. Learn how the options differ, and the steps in filing a complaint.
Last reviewed March 2024