CLAIM DETAILS
Rice Parsons Leoni & Elliott LLP seeks to recover Charter damages for all first time, non-violent federal offenders who were held in custody beyond their accelerated parole review (APR) release dates solely as a result of the application of provisions of the Abolition of Early Parole Act, SC 2011, c 11 [AEPA], which retroactively removed their eligibility for APR. The unconstitutionality of those provisions has already been conclusively established by the courts.
If you were deprived of your liberty and suffered other losses as a result of the retroactive removal of your APR eligibility, our class action team is available to try to assist you in seeking compensation. Complete the form below to subscribe to our database and receive all updates and notices regarding this class action.
CURRENT STATUS
A summary trial of the core issues in these claims will be heard at a date to be set by the court in the summer/fall of 2026. Among other things, the summary trial will determine whether s.10(1) of the Abolition of Early Parole Act was “clearly unconstitutional” in the sense described in Canada (Attorney General) v. Power, 2024 SCC 26, such that Canada’s limited immunity from liability for Charter damages for the enactment of unconstitutional legislation does not apply in this case.
Previous update:
Both of these actions have been certified as class proceedings (2020 FC 1074 (CanLII) | Whaling v. Canada | CanLII.) The Government of Canada’s appeal of the certification of both actions was dismissed by the Federal Court of Appeal (2022 FCA 37 (CanLII) | Canada v. Whaling | CanLII). A trial of a number of preliminary questions of law was heard on March 23, 2023. The Federal Court released its decision on the preliminary questions of law on May 9, 2024 (2024 FC 712 (CanLII) | Whaling v. Canada | CanLII). The Government of Canada has appealed this decision. The appeal is not yet scheduled but is likely to be heard in late 2024.
DOCUMENTS
Please see the latest versions of the statements of claim for more information about the class actions: