Roberts v. Canada (Attorney General)
UPDATE (OCTOBER 2, 2026):
The British Columbia Court of Appeal has dismissed the Crown’s appeal against the initial Certification Decision in this matter.
This marks a major forward in obtaining justice for the rights restrictions and inhumane treatment suffered by Class Members.
You can read the Court of Appeal’s dismissal of the Crown’s appeal here: Canada (Attorney General) v Roberts, 2026 BCCA 397.
Read more about this case below:
The Supreme Court of British Columbia certified a class action seeking damages for currently and formerly incarcerated people who were confined to their cells for up to 22 hours per day and denied any meaningful human interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic. These conditions were a form of “lockdown” amounting to solitary confinement, which subjected imprisoned people to inhumane rights restrictions.
The action was originally certified on May 30, 2025. Although the Crown appealed the initial certification decision, the appeal was dismissed by the British Columbia Court of Appeal on October 2, 2026. Further updates will be provided as this matter proceeds.
The Supreme Court of British Columbia’s original Certification Decision can be found below: