Federal Indian Hospitals Class Action
If you were admitted to a Federal Indian Hospital, you may be eligible to receive money as part of a proposed Canada-wide settlement that has been reached to compensate individuals for harms they suffered.
Compensation is not yet available – the Settlement Approval Hearing will be at the Federal Court of Canada from June 10 – 11, 2025.
What to know about the proposed Settlement
From 1936 to 1981, the Federal government operated hospitals referred to as Federal Indian Hospitals. In the class action, Ann Cecile Hardy v. The Attorney General of Canada (Court File No. T-143-18), individuals who were admitted to Federal Indian Hospitals sought damages or monetary compensation from Canada for abuses, including psychological, verbal, physical and/or sexual abuse, they experienced while admitted.
This action was certified as a class action by the Federal Court on January 17, 2020, on consent.
A proposed Settlement has now been reached to address claims of psychological, verbal, physical and/or sexual abuse at Federal Indian Hospitals.
The proposed Settlement (document will be posted soon) provides for direct compensation to eligible Class Members ranging from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $200,000, for psychological, verbal, physical and/or sexual abuse experienced at Federal Indian Hospitals.
To be eligible for direct compensation, you must have been a patient at one of 33 Federal Indian Hospitals (document will be posted soon) while they were operated by the Government of Canada.
The proposed settlement also provides for a Healing Fund, a Research and Commemoration Fund, and health and wellness supports for Class Members through Indigenous Services Canada.
Class Members who passed away on or after January 25, 2016, may also be eligible through the Estates process if the proposed Settlement is approved.
What should I do now?
If you agree with the proposed Settlement, you do not have to do anything right now. But if you disagree with the proposed Settlement or have concerns, you have the right to object or opt out.
You may also wish to attend, watch or participate in the settlement hearing, which will be held on June 10 and 11, 2025. Learn more about your rights under the proposed Settlement (document will be posted soon).
More information is available in the Short-Form Notice (document will be posted soon) and Long-Form Notice (document will be posted soon) and in the FAQs below:
