I am reaching out today to provide you with an important update about the First Nations Drinking Water Settlement.

The Court has approved a one-year extension to the claims period.

This means Impacted First Nations and Individuals impacted by long-term drinking water advisories that lasted for at least one year between November 20, 1995, and June 20, 2021 now have until March 7, 2024 to submit their claim for compensation.

If you haven’t already accepted the settlement, there is more time for the Chief and Council to submit the Band Council Acceptance Resolution (BCAR) to the Administrator. If you’ve already submitted a BCAR but need more time to complete and submit the Band Council Confirmation List, you still have time until March 7, 2024.

This also means that class members from your community have until March 7, 2024, to submit an Individual or a Representative Claim Form.

Claims submitted before March 7, 2023, will be assessed by the Administrator, and eligible payments will be processed. Claims submitted between March 8, 2023, and March 7, 2024, will be assessed and processed after the end of the extended Claims Period on March 7, 2024.

All claims for Specified Injuries compensation for injuries experienced while complying with drinking water advisories will be assessed and processed after the end of the extended Claims Period on March 7, 2024.

Free support and information are available:

• First Nations Drinking Water website, and more specifically, the Interactive Guide  
• First Nation Drinking Water Facebook page 
• Administrator toll-free at 1-833-252-4220
• Class Counsel toll-free at 1-833-265-7589
• Emotional support through Hope for Wellness toll-free at 1-855-242-3310

We have updated social media ads for you to use to promote the extension within your community. Please visit www.firstnationsdrinkingwater.ca for those assets.

Please also feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns.

Thank you!

Kind regards,

The FNDW outreach team

Dear Chief,
You’re receiving this email because we are respectfully requesting that First Nations post this message for their citizens. This message shares important updates on the First Nations Child and Family Services and Jordan’s Principle Class Action Settlement.

Linked here is an official notice regarding the Class Action, including important information about timelines. This notice has been approved by the Federal Court of Canada.

The plaintiffs and Canada have reached a $20 billion settlement of this class action regarding compensation for First Nations children and some of their family members who were impacted by the Government of Canada’s discrimination in the First Nations Child and Family Services Program and Jordan’s Principle.

The Settlement is not final yet and the claims period has not yet started.

What is happening now?

The Settlement Agreement will be reviewed by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. Updates will be available at www.fnchildcompensation.ca.

The Settlement Agreement will be reviewed by the Federal Court of Canada at a hearing from September 19-23, 2022. Details on the hearing will be available at www.fnchildcompensation.ca.

If you wish to be part of the class action and make a claim for compensation, you do not need to do anything now. More information will be available when the claims period has launched. If you have any questions on the class action or compensation process, you may contact the Claims Administrator at 1-833-852-0755.

If you do NOT want to be part of the class action and do NOT wish to receive compensation, you can remove yourself. This is called “opting-out”. To do this, you must fill out the Opt-out form here by February 19, 2023. More information on opting-out is included on the Opt-out form. If you have questions about the opt-out process, you can contact the Claims Administrator at 1-833-852-0755. You can also contact Class Counsel representatives (Nahwegahbow Corbiere Genoodmagejig/Barristers & Solicitors, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP) for free legal advice on your options at: 1-877-750-5554.

You do not need to hire a legal professional for representation. On August 17, 2022, the Federal Court made an interim order that legal professionals cannot publish communications to potential claimants without Court approval. This Order will be posted at www.fnchildcompensation.ca.

What should you do next?

• Visit www.fnchildcompensation.ca to review the Notice and Settlement Agreement.
• Learn more about the Federal Court hearing beginning on September 19, 2022 and decide if you want to participate at www.fnchildcompensation.ca.
• If you wish to be part of the class action, you can apply for compensation when the process is open. You do not have to do anything further right now.
• If you do NOT wish to be part of the class action, complete the online Opt-out form here or request a paper form by calling the Administrator at 1-833-852-0755. You must submit your Opt-out form by February 19, 2023.
• Free legal advice regarding this settlement is available through Class Counsel representatives (Nahwegahbow Corbiere Genoodmagejig/Barristers & Solicitors, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP) at 1-877-750-5554.
• There is no need for you to personally hire any lawyer, paralegal or other adviser. However, if you choose to retain a lawyer other than Class Counsel, you will be responsible for any legal fees for their services.
• Sign up for regular updates on the Class Action at www.fnchildcompensation.ca.

If you have any questions, please contact the Administrator at 1-833-852-0755.

If you are experiencing emotional distress and would like assistance, please contact the Hope for Wellness Helpline at 1-855-242-3310.