Ethos Law Group LLP

Monique Pongracic-Speier*

Monique is a litigator.  She represents clients in complex litigation, administrative law proceedings (including workers compensation and human rights claims), and constitutional claims.   

Monique has argued cases at the Supreme Court of Canada, all levels of Court in British Columbia, and before various administrative tribunals. Some of Monique’s recent and notable cases include:

•   Attorney General of Canada v. PHS Community Services Society et al. 2011 SCC 44, 2010 BCCA 15 and 2008 BCSC 661, the constitutional litigation concerning Vancouver’s supervised injection site.  Monique and senior counsel Joseph J. Arvay, Q.C. led the case for the PHS Community Services Society, Shelly Tomic and Dean Wilson.
•   Reference Concerning the Constitutionality of Section 293 of the Criminal Code of Canada, 2011 BCSC 1588, which concerned the constitutionality of Canada's polygamy offence.  Monique represented the B.C. Civil Liberties Association in the proceedings.
•   Lalli v. British Columbia (Workers' Compensation Appeal Tribunal), 2010 BCSC 1501.  This judicial review proceeding overturned the Tribunal's decision to deny benefits to the widow of a truck driver killed in a single vehicle accident. 
•   Cowburn v. British Columbia (Workers’ Compensation Board) 2006 BCSC 722, which overturned a WCB policy limiting benefits for retired workers with deteriorating conditions. After Cowburn, more than 550 WCB claims were re-adjudicated and more than $3.8 million paid out in new benefits. 

Monique has a special interest in international law, particularly in the area of human rights.  She chairs the Canadian Bar Association's International Law Section, and co-chairs the Section’s Rights of Persons and Communities Committee. She previously served as Chair of the British Columbia Branch of the International Law Section, and Co-Chair of the International Assistance Committee. Monique is also a member of Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada, and served as its Mexico monitor from 2006 to 2008.

Monique received her law degree from the University of British Columbia in 2001 and was called to the Bar in British Columbia in 2002. She also holds a BA in philosophy and political science from Simon Fraser University.

Areas of Practice

Administrative Law • Appellate Litigation • Civil Litigation • Constitutional and Human Rights Law • Insurance Law • Labour and Employment Law • Personal Injury and Wrongful Death • Workers’ Compensation

*practising as a Law Corporation