University of British Columbia Archives | Inventories
University of British Columbia Archives | Inventories
British Columbia Civil Liberties Association - APEC Inquiry fonds.
-- 1997-2001.
2.26 metres of textual records.
3 computer diskettes.
10 videotapes.
The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) is a "non-partisan, autonomous and charitable society" whose mandate is to "preserve, defend, maintain and extend civil liberties and human rights in British Columbia and across Canada".
On November 25, 1997, approximately 1,500 protesters came to the University of British Columbia campus to voice their opposition to the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit. Protesters were concerned that APEC discussions aimed at liberalizing trade between the participating countries would not include any reference to human rights and social and environmental issues. In particular, the protesters demonstrated against the participation of President Jiang Zemin of China and President Suharto of Indonesia. In the days leading up to the protest a number of anti-APEC organizers, including Jaggi Singh, were detained or arrested.
Following a series of peaceful demonstrations on the morning of November 25th, protesters clashed with police in the afternoon. At the Rose Garden plaza protesters broke through a police barricade and were pepper sprayed by the police. The protesters then spread out in hopes of being seen by APEC delegates. At one of the roadblocks on N.W. Marine Drive, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Staff Sergeant Hugh Stewart warned protesters that officers would use whatever force necessary if they did not clear the area. Shortly thereafter officers moved into the crowd with pepper spray.
Differing versions of events, both prior to, during, and after the protest led to the initiation of a variety of legal actions. Serious charges were levelled at the RCMP for their handling of the event, and for their alleged role in the suppression of free speech and other civil liberties. Allegations of political interference by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) into the actions of the RCMP were also made.
The APEC Inquiry was launched by the RCMP's Public Complaints Commission (PCC) on February 20, 1998, and formal hearings commenced October 5, 1998. Following additional allegations of renewed political interference, the hearings ended abruptly with the resignation of the Inquiry's Chief Commissioner, Gerald Morin, on December 4, 1998. A second round of hearings under the direction of Ted Hughes began on March 23, 1999, and concluded on June 30, 2000. The PCC's interim report was released on July 31, 2001, and its final report appeared on March 25, 2002.
The B.C. Civil Liberties Association, through its president, Kay Stockholder, filed a complaint with the RCMP - PCC. Although the BCCLA took no position on the merits of the various protestor's views, the Association was the first to call for public hearings into the events at the APEC summit, and, as President of the BCCLA, Stockholder was the complainant before the PCC until replaced in 1998 by incoming president Andrew D. Irvine.
The fonds consists of exhibits and submissions from assorted counsel, as well as notes relating to the BCCLA and their role the APEC Inquiry
Counsel Submissions Series. - n.d.
1.21 m of textual material.
Series consists of submissions by counsel representing a variety of groups, including The Attorney General of Canada, The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association, The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and The University of British Columbia. The material includes Books of Authorities (previous legal decisions) as well as arguments and reply submissions.
Boxes: 3 (8,9), 4 (12-22, 26-33), 5 (1-6, 8-10), 6, 7
Exhibit Series. - n.d.
93 cm of textual material.
10 videotapes.
Series consists of 709 exhibits presented during the APEC Inquiry. Exhibits include witness statements, police statements, arrest reports, copies of photographs, and published and unpublished anti-APEC material. As well, the exhibits include 10 compiled videotapes of assorted events relating to the incidents surrounding the APEC protests. It should be noted that the numbered exhibit list often refers to evidence that although exhibited at the Inquiry, was too unwieldy to be retained, such as banners, signs, and posters.
Boxes: 1, 2, 3 (1-7), 4 (1-11, 23-25)
Videotapes 901-1001
Miscellaneous Series. - n.d.
1 cm of textual material.
Series consists of correspondence, articles, and copies of newspaper clippings relating to the role of the BCCLA in general as well as within the context of the APEC Inquiry.
Michael P. Doherty Series. - n.d.
6 cm of textual material.
3 computer diskettes.
Michael P. Doherty was lead counsel for The British Columbia Public Interest Advocacy Centre, an organization representing the BCCLA during the APEC Inquiry. Series consists of three computer diskettes as well as the printed information they contain. The material includes drafts of questions, cross-examinations, statements, as well as background information on a variety of people connected with the Inquiry.
Reports Series. - 2001.
5 cm of textual material.
Series consists of the Commission Interim Report released July 31, 2001.
Box: 5 (7)
PCC = RCMP Public Complaints Commission
APEC = Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation
AELM = APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting
ACCO = APEC Canada Co-ordinating Office
TAG = APEC Threat Assessment Joint Intelligence Group
BCCLA = British Columbia Civil Liberties Association
PMO = Prime Minister's Office
MOA = UBC Museum of Anthropology
Further information as well as photographs relating to APEC can be found in W. Wesley Pue (ed), Pepper in Our Eyes: The APEC Affair (Vancouver: UBC Press Vancouver, 2000).