{"settlement":{"id":"caf-racial-discrimination-harassment-2025","slug":"caf-racial-discrimination-harassment-2025","title":"Canadian Armed Forces Racial Discrimination and Racial Harassment Class Action","category":"Discrimination and Human Rights","status":"Claims closed","tags":{"industry":["Employment and labour","Government services"],"geographic":["Canada-wide"],"recoveryType":["Cash payment"],"documentation":["Self-attestation only","Identity verification required"],"eligibilityTrigger":["Was employed","Experienced abuse or harm"]},"classDefinition":"All persons who are or have been enrolled as Canadian Armed Forces members at any time from April 17, 1985 up to and including January 10, 2025, who assert that they have been subjected to Racial Discrimination and/or Racial Harassment in connection with their military service, and who were alive as of June 6, 2024.","plainLanguageSummary":"If you are a current or former Canadian Armed Forces member who experienced racial discrimination or racial harassment during your service at any point between April 17, 1985 and January 10, 2025, you may be eligible for a payment between $5,000 and $35,000.","eligibilityCriteria":[],"recoveryRange":"$5,000 to $35,000 per claimant","filingInstructions":"Download the Individual Claim Form from the Claims Administrator's website at https://cafrdclaims.com, or contact the Administrator by phone at 1-844-720-0499 or email at cafrd@deloitte.ca to request one.\nComplete Part 3 (Claimant Information) with your full legal name, contact details, date of birth, and Canadian Armed Forces service information.\nAttach a government-issued photo ID (such as a driver's license, passport, or Indian Status Card). If you do not have photo ID, attach two non-photo documents that together show your name, date of birth, and signature.\nComplete Part 4 (Eligibility and Common Experience Payment) by declaring that you experienced Racial Discrimination and/or Racial Harassment while serving in the CAF since April 17, 1985, and describing your racial identity.\nIf you wish to apply for an additional payment beyond the $5,000 Common Experience Payment, also complete Part 5 (Assessment of Narrative Evidence) by describing how the racial discrimination or harassment impacted your personal dignity, bodily or emotional integrity, spiritual well-being, and/or individual relationships.\nSign and date Part 7 (Certificate/Attestation) in the presence of a witness, who must also sign and date the form.\nSubmit the completed Claim Form and all attachments by the October 15, 2026 deadline by email to cafrd@deloitte.ca, by fax to 416-366-1102, or by mail to PO Box 7394 STN Adelaide, Toronto, ON M5C 0B8.\nIf you need help completing the form, contact Class Counsel at no cost by calling 1-902-420-3322 or emailing forces.class.action@stewartmckelvey.com.","caseBackground":"This class action was brought on behalf of current and former members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) who experienced racial discrimination and/or racial harassment in connection with their military service at any time from April 17, 1985 onward. The lawsuit alleged that racialized and Indigenous CAF members were subjected to unfair treatment, offensive conduct, and harassment based on their race, ethnicity, colour, or Indigeneity. Canada did not admit liability, but agreed to settle the case.\n\nOn December 20, 2024, the Federal Court certified the lawsuit as a class action and approved the Final Settlement Agreement as fair, reasonable, and in the best interests of class members. The settlement provides individual monetary payments, an option for a personalized letter of apology from the Chief of the Defence Staff, access to a restorative engagement process, and systemic measures aimed at improving the culture within the CAF to address and prevent racial discrimination and harassment going forward.","administratorName":"Deloitte LLP","administratorContacts":[{"type":"phone","label":"","value":"1-844-720-0499"},{"type":"online","label":"","value":"https://www.classaction.deloitte.ca/en-CA/caf-racism-class-action/"},{"type":"email","label":"","value":"cafrd@deloitte.ca"},{"type":"fax","label":"","value":"416-366-1102"},{"type":"mail","label":"","value":"PO Box 7394 STN Adelaide, Toronto ON M5C 0B8 Canada"}],"administratorRole":"claims","agentName":"","agentContacts":[],"agentClaimFormHelp":false,"classCounselName":"","classCounselContacts":[],"classCounselFirms":[],"submissionMethods":[{"type":"email","label":"Email","value":"cafrd@deloitte.ca"},{"type":"fax","label":"Fax","value":"416-366-1102"},{"type":"mail","label":"Mail","value":"PO Box 7394 STN Adelaide, Toronto, ON M5C 0B8"},{"type":"online","label":"Portal","value":"https://portal.cafrdclaims.ca/"}],"sourceDocuments":[{"url":"/uploads/853fc2973c9e056183115e2f-Long_Form_Notice_-_English.pdf","title":"Notice to Class Members"},{"url":"/uploads/798cf9a01a548ff5b0068872-Claim_Form_-_English.pdf","title":"Claim Form"},{"url":"/uploads/a2836e2111a15817a58d28b7-Long_Form_Notice_-_French.pdf","title":"Avis aux membres du groupe"},{"url":"/uploads/fd1d58314ea334237c52db96-Claim_Form_-_French.pdf","title":"Formulaire de réclamation"}],"shortFormNoticeUrl":"","longFormNoticeUrl":"/uploads/853fc2973c9e056183115e2f-Long_Form_Notice_-_English.pdf","settlementAgreementUrl":"","claimFormDocumentUrl":"/uploads/798cf9a01a548ff5b0068872-Claim_Form_-_English.pdf","claimForms":[{"id":"f3f70d1a6bf3","url":"/uploads/798cf9a01a548ff5b0068872-Claim_Form_-_English.pdf","name":"Claim Form","language":"en","description":""},{"id":"38cc238ffd39","url":"/uploads/fd1d58314ea334237c52db96-Claim_Form_-_French.pdf","name":"Formulaire de réclamation","language":"fr","description":""}],"claimFormsButtonLabel":"claim-form","claimFormsUnavailable":false,"claimFormsUnavailableReason":"","claimFormGuides":[],"additionalDocuments":[],"optOutFormUrl":"","optOutInstructions":"","objectionFormUrl":"","objectionInstructions":"","faqs":[{"answer":"All eligible class members receive a Common Experience Payment of $5,000 simply by attesting to their experience and describing their racial identity. If you choose to share a detailed narrative in Part 5 of the Claim Form, an independent assessor may award an additional $10,000 (Level A), $20,000 (Level B), or $30,000 (Level C), for a maximum total of $35,000. Payments may be adjusted on a pro rata basis if total claims exceed $150 million.","question":"How much money can I receive?"},{"answer":"The deadline to file your Individual Claim Form with the Claims Administrator is October 15, 2026. Claims submitted after this date will not be accepted.","question":"What is the deadline to file a claim?"},{"answer":"No records or documentation are required to prove the information you provide in the claim form. The Assessment of Narrative Evidence is not based on medical diagnoses or corroborative reports. You must attach a government-issued photo ID (or two non-photo identity documents) to verify your identity, but no other supporting documents are needed.","question":"Do I need to provide proof or medical records to support my claim?"},{"answer":"If you do nothing, you will give up the right to collect any payment under the settlement, and you will also give up the right to sue Canada or bring a human rights complaint about racial discrimination or racial harassment connected to your military service. The opt-out deadline to preserve your right to sue independently was April 10, 2025.","question":"What happens if I do nothing?"},{"answer":"The documents do not specify an exact payment date. Payments will be issued after your claim is assessed by the independent administrator. Cheques will be issued in the name of the class member or, where applicable, the class member's estate. Contact the Administrator at cafrd@deloitte.ca or 1-844-720-0499 for updates on payment timing.","question":"When will payments be issued?"}],"eligibilityChecker":{"questions":[{"id":"caf-member","text":"Are you currently serving, or have you previously served, as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces?","type":"yes_no","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"service-period","text":"Did you serve in the Canadian Armed Forces at any point between April 17, 1985 and January 10, 2025?","type":"yes_no","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"experienced-discrimination-harassment","text":"Did you experience racial discrimination and/or racial harassment in connection with your military service?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"This includes unfair treatment, offensive conduct, or harassment based on your race, ethnicity, colour, or Indigeneity.","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"alive-june-2024","text":"Were you alive as of June 6, 2024?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"If you are filing on behalf of a deceased class member's estate, they must have been alive on June 6, 2024 (the date the Final Settlement Agreement was signed).","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"not-opted-out","text":"Did you refrain from opting out of this class action before April 10, 2025?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"If you filed an Opt Out Form or had an active legal proceeding against Canada that you did not discontinue before April 10, 2025, you may have been automatically opted out.","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true}],"uncertainMessage":"Some of your answers were Not sure, so we could not confidently determine your eligibility.","qualifyingMessage":"Based on your answers, you appear to fall within the class definition for this settlement.","nonQualifyingMessage":"Based on your answers, you do not appear to fall within the class definition for this settlement."},"claimCategories":[],"proceedings":null,"relatedSlugs":[],"group":null,"cardSummary":"If you are a current or former Canadian Armed Forces member who faced racial discrimination or racial harassment during your service, you may be able to claim a payment of $5,000 to $35,000.","proofRequired":"none","claimTime":"about 15-30 minutes","claimAmount":"$5,000 to $35,000","coverageStartDate":"1985-04-17","coverageEndDate":"2025-01-10","deadline":"2026-10-15","optOutDeadline":"","objectionDeadline":"","approvalHearingDate":"","approvalHearingDates":[],"approvalPending":false,"resolution":"settlement","judgmentAppealed":false,"seriousHarmEnabled":false,"quietPresentation":false,"formHelperEnabled":false,"dateAdded":"2026-06-10","lastUpdated":"2026-10-16","firstPublishedAt":"2026-06-10","claimsOpenedAt":"2026-06-10","lastVerifiedAt":"2026-06-10","languages":["en","fr"]}}