If you were a unionized employee in Ontario providing home care for a municipal provider that was transferred to a CCAC between 1996-1998 and either a member of CUPE at the time of the transfer or later became a member of CUPE, you may be eligible for compensation.
A class action was commenced on behalf of certain unionized employees and former employees of Community Care Access Centres (“CCACs”) whose anticipated pension benefits were potentially impacted by the actions of the Government of Ontario.
The parties have reached a settlement through which the Government will pay $2,500.00 to each Class Member with a Valid Claim, and administration fees, and, possibly, a portion of the legal fees incurred on behalf of Class Members.
The Class Members:
a) Employees and former employees of municipalities or service providers associated with municipalities (hereinafter referred to as “municipal providers”) whose employment was transferred from the municipal providers to newly-established Community Care Access Centres (“CCACs”) and who were members of CUPE at the time of the transfer and who did not subsequently become members of the Ontario Nurses Association (“ONA”) or the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (“OPSEU”) and for greater certainty, those who became enrolled in the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan, formerly known as the Hospitals of Ontario Pension Plan, (“HOOP”) and were previously enrolled in the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System or the VON Canada Pension Plan (“Former Plans”); and
b) Employees of the municipal providers whose employment was transferred from the municipal providers to CCACs who subsequently became members of CUPE and who were not members of CUPE, ONA, or OPSEU at the time of the transfer.
Your Options:
1. If you are a Class Member you may complete a Claim Form and mail to the Claims Administrator;
2. If you are a Class Member and were previously enrolled in the VON Canada Pension Plan (now included in the Class Definition) who has not previously had an opportunity to opt-out of the class action and do not wish to complete a claim form and receive a $2,500.00 payment, you may opt out of the class action and the settlement by sending a written request to opt-out by email to tatherfold@goldblattpartners.com, or by regular mail to Goldblatt Partners LLP, 20 Dundas Street West, Suite 1100, Toronto, ON M5G 2G8, Attention: Tanya Atherfold-Desilva, postmarked on or before February 15, 2017; or
3. Do nothing.
Important Dates:
| Claims Filing Deadline: | April 15, 2017 |
| Opt-Out Deadline (Ex-VON Members Only): | February 15, 2017 |
| Judgement Approving the Settlement: | November 15, 2016 |