AMLC lawyers Wes McMillan and Danielle Wierenga will represent the BC Humanist Association in a trial concerning the scope of freedom of religion and access to Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)
On April 1, 2025, Chief Justice Skolrood granted the BC Humanist Association leave to intervene in the trial.
The case concerns a constitutional challenge arising out of the unavailability of MAiD at St. Paul's Hospital and other medical facilities in BC operated by faith-based organizations. In their submissions, the BC Humanists will argue, among other things, that when the government provides a public service by contracting with a non-government entity, it cannot circumvent its Charter obligations by allowing that entity to provide the service in a way that would contravene the government’s duty of religious neutrality if provided by the government itself. The BC Humanists bring the perspective of the non-religious to assist the court in determining this important public law issue.
In addition to the BC Humanists and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, the Chief Justice granted five other organizations leave to intervene in this case: the Canadian Centre for Christian Charities; Canadian Physicians for Life; the Christian Legal Fellowship; the Delta Hospice Society; and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The Canadian Constitution Foundation's application for leave to intervene was denied. The trial of this matter is scheduled to begin in January 2026.
Allen / McMillan Litigation Counsel’s award-winning pro bono practice often includes public interest interventions for organizations such as the BC Humanists, who bring important perspectives to the law but have limited resources. AMLC lawyers have previously represented the BC Humanists at the BC Human Rights Tribunal, the BC Supreme Court, the BC Court of Appeal and, on two occasions, at the Supreme Court of Canada.