HALIFAX,
NS, May 1, 2024 /CNW/ - The Government of
Canada has agreed to a proposed
settlement of a class action for current and former members of the
Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) who experienced racial discrimination
or racial harassment in connection with their military service.
If approved, the settlement may provide payment to all current
or former CAF members who have been enrolled between April 17, 1985, and today and who have
experienced racial discrimination or harassment in connection with
their service.
The proposed settlement also provides class members the option
to participate in a restorative engagement process to communicate
their experiences to senior CAF leadership with the assistance of
qualified and trained restorative practitioners. In addition, the
proposed settlement includes other systemic relief measures to
improve the organizational culture and systems within the CAF, with
the objective of addressing and eliminating racial discrimination
and harassment in the organization.
A hearing to determine if the proposed settlement is fair,
reasonable, and in the best interests of the class members is
scheduled to take place before the Federal Court on July 16 and 17, 2024 in Halifax and by videoconference. The hearing is
open for anyone to attend in person or virtually.
Ahead of this hearing, current and former CAF members who have
experienced racial discrimination or harassment have the option to
register their support for, or objection to, the proposed
settlement along with a rationale via a Participation Form. The
form is available for download on the class website
forcesaction.com and also provides the option for class
members to request to speak at the hearing if they choose.
Completed Participation Forms must be received by class counsel by
mail, courier, or email on or before June
27, 2024.
Additional information about the class action and proposed
settlement are available at forcesaction.com.
About the class action:
This class action is related to Canadian Armed Forces members
who have experienced racial discrimination or racial harassment in
connection with their military service. Initiated in 2016, the
class action has recently reached a proposed settlement.
SOURCE Stewart McKelvey