Lead Article

No appeal… we need your help on long-term strategy

George Macintosh, the court-appointed lawyer arguing against Canada’s “polygamy law”, won’t appeal Chief Justice Bauman’s November 23 finding. The CPAA expected an appeal and is surprised.

We don’t have legal standing to bring our own appeal. Unless the Attorneys General decide to take this to a higher court, we don’t see any way to attack Section 293 directly in the near future.

The good news: without litigation setting an agenda for us, we can set our own, taking a fresh look at what Canada’s poly majority needs. We’re free to think about the long term, and we’d like your help.

If we really are done in court for now, in the coming weeks and months we’ll look at where the CPAA should go next: what our principles should be, where our priorities should lie, what services we should provide, what strategies we should use, who our allies should be, how we’ll be funded, and how we should organize ourselves. We can reinvent the CPAA completely, if that’s what needs to be done.
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Press Releases

CPAA Reacts to BC Supreme Court Decision

CPAA Relieved That Polyamorist Relationships Are Not Criminalized

VANCOUVER — November 23, 2011 — The Canadian Polyamory Advocacy Association (CPAA) is relieved by BC Chief Justice Robert Bauman’s decision today clarifying the interpretation of Canada’s anti-polygamy law.

“Polyamorists are relieved they can be in loving egalitarian conjugal relationships without criminal sanction,” said CPAA legal counsel, John Ince, “Common law relationships are clearly not prohibited. Polyamorists who are dealing with immigration or family custody issues for instance now need no longer worry about being considered to be criminals”.

Many polyamorous women, as well as men, have multiple partners, and polyamorists think men and women have equal freedom to define their relationships. The CPAA says the decision will relieve most polyamorists but, alarmingly, will harm those who make certain formal commitments.

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Statement from John Ince: What this decision means for polyamorists

Open letter to the Canadian Polyamory Community from John Ince Hello everyone: It has been two weeks since the Polygamy Reference court decision was released by Chief Justice Baumann of the BC Supreme Court. I have thought a great deal about the case since then, and communicated with lawyers and people in our legal team about how that decision affects the members of the Canadian polyamory community. Thoughts only –
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Most of us in the clear… for now

The decision is in. Although the law was upheld, the judge’s interpretation means that most of the poly majority isn’t criminalized. However, those who have formalized their commitments aren’t out of the woods.

There’s more in our press release and in the judge’s reasons.

Our thanks go out to all the community members who’ve supported us. The CPAA is in this for the long haul. We will continue our work, on appeal, in Parliament, or wherever it takes, until all loving, healthy polyamorous relationships are fully accepted in Canada. And we’ll still need your help.

We are, of course, still and always available for interviews at +1 778 786 8010.

On the precipice of history

On Wednesday of this week coming (November 23rd), Chief Justice Robert Bauman will release his decision with regards to the BC Supreme Court reference case on section 293 of the Criminal Code of Canada (known as the Polygamy Law).  Both the legal counsel involved in the case and the media will be in a lock down room and allowed to view the decision and reasons on that morning slightly before
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International Poly House Party Weekend

“The first EVER international DIY festival celebrating *your* polyamory *your* way…It is barbecues, keggers, potlucks, raves, picnics, blues dances, play parties, tantric retreats, game nights, field days, movement fundraisers, cuddle parties, and fancy dinners. It is raising awareness about our culture, our relationship preference, and the idea that freedom of relationship choice is important to society at large. It is a community bonding experience, our way– because everyone will do
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And What about the Children?

The incredible irony is that this law, regardless of its actual interpretation in court, brands us as criminals without any evidence of any actual harm being done and in the process can actually bring harm to us and our children. Section 293 potentially victimizes a group of people in this country who do no harm, who are doing the best they can, and, by any measure, are not substantially different from anyone else in this country.

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