Ottawa directing DND to drop appeal of sexual misconduct class action extension – National | 24CA News

The federal authorities is directing officers on the Department of National Defence (DND) to right away drop their attraction of a current Federal Court ruling that will additional prolong the deadline for submitting claims in a army sexual misconduct class motion settlement, Global News has realized.

A Federal Court choose dominated on Jan. 6 that late claims might be accepted within the Canadian Armed Forces-Department of National Defence (CAF-DND) Sexual Misconduct Class Action Settlement till Feb. 5.

An announcement posted on the Department of National Defence’s web site on Jan. 17, nonetheless, stated the ruling “compromises the integrity” of the ultimate settlement settlement (FSA) negotiated by the events and authorised by the court docket, and introduced plans to attraction it.

The directive to drop the attraction got here after Global News repeatedly requested the Prime Minister’s Office and Defence Minister Anita Anand’s workplace to justify the attraction and acquired no responses. A authorities supply says the order to drop it got here from the political stage.

A spokesperson from Anand’s workplace confirmed the choice to attraction can be reversed “after careful consideration and in line with our government’s commitment to cultural change.”

The court docket’s ruling approving the extension got here in response to an software initially introduced by 12 people who have been in search of to have the ability to be a part of the category motion after lacking the deadline to take action final 12 months. The legislation agency Koskie Minsky LLP argued in federal court docket filings that some 640 folks could also be eligible if the late functions can be authorised.

The causes given by late claimants for being unable to satisfy the deadline have been because of the emotional and psychological difficulties they suffered on account of the sexual misconduct skilled within the CAF-DND, the legislation agency prompt.

Koskie Minsky and RavenLaw, one other agency representing among the claimants, informed Global News that DND’s reasoning for launching its attraction have been “deeply troubling.”

“On the contrary, the court’s decision is consistent with the settlement agreement as well as the principles underlying it, including the importance of having a process that is restorative and trauma-informed,” the companies stated in an announcement.

—With information from Aaron D’Andrea

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