Statement from CBABC President on access to justice for patients under the Mental Health Act

  • May 09, 2024

CBABC is pleased to support the Health Justice report, “Upstream Barriers, Downstream Crisis: Denial of Justice under BC’s Mental Health Act”, which highlights the challenges involuntary mental health patients have accessing legal advice. CBABC has long called for legislative reforms for British Columbians detained under the Mental Health Act.

“It’s our constitutional right to receive legal advice and representation when our personal freedom is being denied," said Scott Morishita, President of the Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch. “The recommendations in this report address issues that significantly infringe on basic human rights and deny access to justice for people when they are at their most vulnerable."

Read the report