Introduction

In today’s digital age, privacy breaches have become a growing concern for individuals. If you used a Government of Canada Online Account between March 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020, and suspect that your personal or financial information may have been compromised, you should pay close attention to the following information. This blog will provide you with essential insights into the class action lawsuit initiated against the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and the Government of Canada concerning privacy breaches during this period.

The Lawsuit

Background: The class action lawsuit was launched by Todd Sweet against the CRA and the Government of Canada, alleging negligence in safeguarding the confidential information of Canadians. This negligence resulted in widespread privacy breaches, causing significant concern among the affected individuals. Certification: The Federal Court of Canada has certified this class action lawsuit, with Todd Sweet serving as the representative Plaintiff.

What the Lawsuit Is About

Among other claims, the Plaintiff alleges that the Government of Canada failed to adequately safeguard confidential personal and financial information stored electronically within various online government portals. These inadequate safeguards allowed unauthorized individuals to access the online accounts of Canadians without their consent. Consequently, these individuals could view confidential and private details and, in many cases, even apply for benefits such as the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). The Plaintiff seeks compensation from the Government of Canada to address the alleged breach of privacy and the potential need for credit monitoring services to mitigate the harm caused. It’s important to note that the Government of Canada denies any wrongdoing, and a judge will determine the outcome of the lawsuit at trial. As of now, no trial date has been set.

Who Is Included in the Lawsuit

This lawsuit is brought on behalf of:

• Class Members: All individuals whose personal or financial information in their Government of Canada Online Account was disclosed to a third party without authorization between March 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020, excluding those who contacted Murphy Battista LLP about the CRA privacy breach class action before June 24, 2021.

Involvement and Opting Out

If you meet the class definition mentioned above, you are automatically included in the class action. You do not need to take any action to participate. However, if you choose not to be part of the lawsuit, you must notify class counsel by mail or email before November 27, 2023. If you opt out, the results of the class action will not apply to you, but you retain the right to pursue an individual claim against the Government of Canada, subject to any applicable limitation periods.

Participation Costs

Participating in this lawsuit does not require you to pay anything out of your pocket. The lawyers representing the class will only be compensated if the claims are successful. In that event, they will request a percentage of the total amount recovered for the class and reimbursement for their disbursements. Legal fees will not exceed 33.33% and must be approved by the Court.   This notice has been authorized by the Federal Court of Canada to ensure that affected individuals are informed about their rights and options in this class action lawsui