Settlement and Claims Information
Background on the Settlement
Have you experienced racial discrimination or racial harassment in the Canadian Armed Forces?
If yes, this class action settlement may affect you.
The Federal Court has approved this settlement, which provides for:
(a) payment for Class Members who experienced racism in connection with their military service;
(b) the option to participate in a restorative engagement process for Class Members to communicate their experiences of racial discrimination and/or racial harassment with senior CAF leadership with the assistance of qualified and trained restorative practitioners;
(c) the option to receive a personalized letter of apology from the Chief of the Defence Staff;
(d) other systemic relief measures to improve the organizational culture and systems within the CAF with the objective of addressing and eliminating racial discrimination and racial harassment in the CAF.
The settlement covers members and former members of the CAF who experienced racial discrimination and/or racial harassment in connection with their military service at any time from April 17, 1985 up to the Approval Date (January 10, 2025) (the "Class Members").
To be eligible for a payment you must be a member of the Class. The Class is defined as:
All persons who are or have been enrolled as CAF Members at any time from April 17, 1985, and for any duration up to and including the Approval Date, and who assert that they have been subjected to Racial Discrimination and/or Racial Harassment.
The terms of the settlement are binding on all Class Members, except those who opt out of the Class Action by a specified date.
Opt Outs
You can opt out of the Class Action. The deadline to file an Opt Out Form with the Claims Administrator is April 10, 2025.
Those who do not file an Opt Out Form with the Claims Administrator by the expiry of the Opt Out period will be bound by the settlement.
Claims process Overview
The Claims Process will open on the Implementation Date, which is expected to start after the expiry of the Opt Out Period (April 10, 2025).
Individual Claim Form
The Individual Claim Form will be made available at the commencement of the Claims Period following the expiry of the Opt Out Period (April 10, 2025).Summary of Claims Process
Please refer to the Long and Short Form Notices for more details.For those individuals who have NOT Opted out, below is a summary of the Claims Process.
To be considered for Individual Payments, individuals must submit an Individual Claim Form prior to the end of the Claims Period.
The Monetary Assessment Scheme outlines the following Payments:
- Common Experience Payment (Required):
Class Member confirms that they experienced racial discrimination and/or racial harassment connected with their military service.
Amount: $5,000.
- Assessment of Narrative Evidence (Optional):
Class Members may choose to share their experiences of racial discrimination and/or racial harassment connected with their military service. Independent Assessors will determine whether Class Members are entitled to additional payment focused on the duration and severity of impacts on personal dignity, bodily and/or emotional integrity; spiritual well-being; and/or individual relationships.
- Level A: $10,000
- Level B: $20,000
- Level C: $30,000
For more detail about the Claims Process, please see Appendix G of the Final Settlement Agreement.
Updates from the Administrator
Claims Period Delayed
An appeal of the Federal Court’s Order approving the settlement in this matter was filed in the Federal Court of Appeal on March 17, 2025 by two individual class members. The Final Settlement Agreement states that… “[t]he implementation date is the latest of…the day after the date of a final determination of any appeal brought in relation to the approval order.” Although the parties are of the view that the appeal was filed out of time, it must be resolved by the Court before the Claims Period can begin. The parties will make every effort to expedite the resolution of the appeal so that the Claims Period can commence; however, Court timelines are beyond our control. Please check back for updates. If you wish to opt-out of the class action, you must still submit an opt-out form to the Claims Administrator by April 10, 2025.
Opt Outs
The Opt out period starts on January 10, 2025 and will expire April 10, 2025.
The Claims period for this Class Action is not yet open and the Claim Form is not currently available. You may continue to visit this website for information and updates, including when the Claims Period will open.