When should I submit my claim?

Claims must be submitted by July 15, 2023. Please ensure that you gather all of the required supporting documents before submitting your form, since it will not be possible to include any new documents once the Administrator has begun reviewing them.

Once you have gathered all of the necessary supporting documents, you must submit your claim without further delay.

I need help to complete my claim. Whom can I contact?

If you require help or additional information to prepare your file and gather the documentation required to submit your claim, you can contact Class Counsel at 418 527-5257 or by email at cveilleux@cva-juris.com.

If you require help for navigating the claims portal or completing the claims form, you can contact the Claims Administrator at 1-855-310-1012 or by email at reclamationshannon@rcgt.com.

Has the Claims period been extended for all members of the group?

Yes. The deadline to submit a claim is July 15, 2023, for all members of the group.

Can I submit a claim if I lived on Cannon Street situated in the Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier municipality?

If you lived on Cannon Street situated in the Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier municipality during an eligible period, you can now submit your claim.

If you also lived at one or more other eligible address(es) during an eligible period(s), and that you have already submitted a claim for these address(es) and period(s) by April 9, 2022, you can exceptionally submit a second claim for the eligible address(es) and period(s) on Cannon Street.

If you also lived at one or more other eligible address(es) during an eligible period(s), and that you have not yet submitted a claim by April 9, 2022, you shall submit only one claim for all these address(es) and period(s) on Cannon Street.

I can no longer find the documents allowing me to prove my claim. Can I still submit a claim?

If your residence was situated on the military base in Shannon (Section (b) of the attached document ( )), you are not required to provide a proof of residence in advance in order to submit a claim. However, you may be required to provide additional documents at a later time.

If your residence in Shannon was one of the addresses outside of the military base (Sections (a) and (c) of the attached document ( )), you must provide the required documentation in order to prove your place of residence. We suggest that you contact Class Counsel at 418 527-5257 or by email at cveilleux@cva-juris.com if you have any questions.

If, despite this process, you are unable to gather sufficient proof of residence and/or supporting documents, it will be possible for you to submit a claim accompanied by a sworn statement. In such cases, you may contact Class Counsel at 418-527-5257 or by email at cveilleux@cva-juris.com for assistance. Claims accompanied by a sworn statement will only be processed at the end of the claims period ending on July 15, 2023.

The address where I reside/resided in Shannon is not indicated on the claims form. Why?

Only those residences for which the civic number was specified in the Court of Appeal decision dated January 17, 2020, or which are military family housing units located in Shannon, or on Cannon Street in the municipality of Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier are part of the class action and, therefore, were indicated on the claims form. To confirm whether your address has been included, please refer to the attached summary table ( ) or to the Court of Appeal decisions dated January 17, 2020 included herewith (page 186 and following) ( ), and November 1, 2021 (attached).

Those residences that are not covered by the decision, such as those built after the period referred to by the Court of Appeal decision dated January 17, 2020, have not been included on the claims form.

If you have any questions as to whether your residence qualifies for this class action, you can contact Class Counsel at 418 527-5257 or by email at cveilleux@cva-juris.com.

I resided at several addresses referred to by the Court of Appeal decision. Am I required to complete several forms?

If you lived on Cannon Street, see question Can I submit a claim if I lived on Cannon Street situated in the Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier municipality? above. Otherwise you can only submit one claim, except if you are a group member’s legal representative.

It is possible to include several addresses for the same claim on the claims form. Each individual must therefore submit one claims form indicating all addresses where he/she resided continuously, for one month or more, during the periods referred to by the decision.

Must I submit a single claim with my spouse?

Any person who was 18 years of age or older on December 21, 2000, and who resided at an eligible address during an eligible period, who wishes to claim compensation is required to submit a separate claim (i.e., that does not include the other members of the household).

My children were 18 years of age or older on December 21, 2000. Can they submit a claim?

Each person who was 18 years of age or older on December 21, 2000, and who resided at an eligible address during an eligible period, can submit a claim to receive compensation. You can contact Class Counsel at 418-527-5257 or by email at cveilleux@cva-juris.com to determine the proof of residence to be provided by these individuals.

I had custody for several children during the relevant period. How will additional compensation be calculated?

Where the addresses referred to in sections (a) and (b) of the attached document ( ) are concerned, you will receive a lump sum amount of $3,000 if you had custody of, or were responsible for, one or more children under the age of 18 while living at this address at one time or another during the relevant period. This $3,000 lump sum amount will not change depending on the number of children in your custody or under your supervision. The amount is per claimant, regardless of the length of the period of residence or the number of children.

Given that claims are submitted individually, each person who can demonstrate that he/she had custody of, or was responsible for, the child residing with him/her will be eligible to receive the lump sum amount of $3,000.

Can I submit a claim for a person who is deceased or legally incapacitated?

Yes. It is possible to submit a claim for a person who is deceased or legally incapacitated provided that the following conditions are met.

Person who is deceased

The claim must be submitted on behalf of the person who is deceased by a legal representative, with the following documents being included:

• A copy of the Claimant’s death certificate or act of death;
• A copy of the will search:
• If the Claimant resided in Québec before death: with the Barreau du Québec et à la Chambre des notaires; or
• If the Claimant resided in another jurisdiction before death: a will search or equivalent completed by a member of the bar of the jurisdiction of residence of the Claimant;
• A certified copy of the testament;
and
• Proof of authority to act as an administrator pursuant to section 1299 and following of the Civil Code of Québec, CQLR c CCQ-1991:
• If the succession has not yet been liquidated: A copy of the proof of appointment as liquidator or a notarized testament, or in the case of an intestate succession, a judgment naming the liquidator;
• If the succession has been liquidated: A copy of the sworn statement in the form prescribed in Appendix I, which must include a copy of the sworn statements by the heirs. ( )

Person with a legal incapacity

The claim must be submitted on behalf of the incapacitated person by a legal representative, with the following documents being included:

• A copy of the mandate in case of incapacity authorizing the legal representative to act on behalf of the incapacitated person.

I don't have internet access. How can I submit my claim?

According to the Claims protocol, claims should be submitted on the Administrator's website. However, if you need assistance in completing an electronic claim, we invite you to contact Class Counsel at: cveilleux@cva-juris.com or 418 527-5257.

If, despite this, you are still unable to complete the electronic form, contact the Administrator at 1-855-310-1012 so that he can send you a paper claim form. In such circumstances, it is your entire responsibility to:

• Keep a copy of the submitted claim and all the supporting documents it contains;
• Keep proof of sending the claim to the Administrator;
• Obtain the confirmation number of the claim by confirming its receipt by the Administrator.

How and when will I receive my compensation payment?

Compensation cheques will be sent by mail by the Administrator. Each claim must go through all the steps in the claims process and be subject to a court decision. Compensation can only be paid once a final decision has been received. It is therefore impossible for us to guarantee when the compensation will be sent.

You can monitor the status of your claim on the claims portal.

How much will I receive?

Example only: if $5,000 in compensation is granted to a claimant, in addition to lump sum compensation for children, the payment would be detailed as follows:

Is any part of my compensation taxable?

The Quebec Court of Appeal confirmed* that interest and additional indemnity accrued following the decision on the merits (December 23rd, 2020) are taxable in the context of class actions leading to an individual claims process.

When the Administrator makes payments in this file, he includes an explanatory note with the cheque. That note will indicate the amounts accrued following the decision on the merits.

For more information, please consult a tax professional or provincial and federal tax authorities.

*Agence du revenu du Québec c. Bernardin, 2021 QCCA 625 (judgment available in French).

Why are Class Counsel's fees deducted from the amount paid?

The Court has approved that 25% of compensation granted (with interest and additional compensation) is to be provided to Class Counsel as payment for work done throughout the class action lawsuit.

Why is a contribution to the Fonds d’aide aux actions collectives deducted from the amount paid?

The general mission of the Fonds d’aide aux actions collectives is to fund class action lawsuits. These contributions are withheld in accordance with the Regulation respecting the percentage withheld by the Fonds d’aide aux actions collectives and make it possible to fund this organization:

(1) Contribution of 2% from any claim less than $2,000;
(2) Contribution of 5% from any claim exceeding $2,000 but less than $5,000;
(3) Contribution of 10% from any claim exceeding $5,000.

What do I need to do if I move during the claims process?

Given that the compensation cheque will be sent by mail, the Claims Administrator must be notified of any change of address (this information should be emailed to reclamationshannon@rcgt.com).

I would like to be represented by an attorney to submit my claim. Am I required to pay the professional fees of Class Counsel?

You are free to be represented by the legal counsel of your choice for this claims process.

However, the 25% Class Counsel fee has been approved by the Court and must be deducted from all amounts to be paid to claimants. These fees reflect the work done to present the class action lawsuit and obtain a final decision.

Therefore, even if you are being represented by an attorney other than Class Counsel to submit your claim, 25% of your compensation amount will still need to be deducted. It will be your responsibility to pay the legal fees of the attorney that you choose to represent you.

The form is asking whether I want to mandate Class Counsel to ask the Court to endorse a Recommendation by the Administrator in certain cases. What does this mean?

These options refer to the eventuality where the Administrator recommends that the Court approve all or most of your claim (i.e. if the amount recommended represents 90% or more of the value of your claim).

It is possible for you to decide, at the start of the process, that in case of such an eventuality, Class Counsel will ask that the Court approve the recommendation on your behalf and at no additional cost. If applicable, you will still be notified of our Recommendation and we will confirm, at that time, that you will have no further steps to take.

If you do not choose this option, you could opt to represent yourself before the Court or to be represented by another attorney. You will receive a copy of the Court procedures and will be able to provide your own written representations to the Court.

Please note that this option is only available where a recommendation is made to approve all or most of the claim. In all other cases, (i.e. if the amount recommended represents less than 90% of the value of your claim), you will be notified of the subsequent steps when a recommendation is made.

Must I request a proof of occupancy to the Department of National Defence if I resided at an eligible address on the Valcartier military base in Shannon or on Cannon Street in the Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier municipality?

No. If your residence was situated on the military base in Shannon or on Cannon Street in the Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier municipality during an included period according to the January 17, 2020, Quebec Court of Appeal judgment (Section (b) of the attached document ( )), you are not required to provide a proof of residence in advance in order to submit a claim.

It is therefore not necessary or useful to ask the Department of National Defence for proof of occupancy. The Administrator will verify with the Department of National Defence all claims concerning an eligible address located on the Valcartier military base in Shannon. This information will directly be provided in the context of the claims process and the Claimant will be informed of the result. However, you may be required to provide additional documents at a later time.

If you have any questions as to whether your residence is eligible in the context of this class action, you can contact Class Counsel at 418 527-5257 or by email at cveilleux@cva-juris.com

What documents can support my claim?

Documents relevant to a Claim include documents establishing the identity and residence of the Claimant, and may include documents such as government-issued identity documents with photo ID and current address, deeds of purchase and sale, a residential lease, bills, tax assessment notices, tax statements, or any other such document that establishes the addresses and periods of residence indicated in the Form.

Where a Claim includes a claim for compensation for the care of or responsibility for a child, the Claimant must establish (i) that the child was living with the Claimant at an Included Address during one of the Included Periods; (ii) that the Claimant had custody of or responsibility of the child at that address and during that period; and (iii) that the child was less than 18 years old during all or part of that period.To that end, the Claimant must provide the child’s birth certificate and any other relevant document attesting to the child’s custody or any legal document establishing the child’s residence, for example, a judgment determining custody of the child, a child custody mediation agreement, or notices of tax assessment, etc.

If you resided on the military base in Shannon or on Cannon Street situated in the Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier municipality during an included period according to the January 17, 2020, Quebec Court of Appeal judgment (Section (b) of the attached document ( )), you are not required to provide a proof of residence in advance in order to submit a claim. However, you have to submit the relevant documents relating to the other aspects of your claim, for example relating to the care of or responsibility of children.