TORONTO – Koskie Minsky LLP in Toronto has announced that survivors of the Canadian government’s LGBT purge have entered into a pan-Canadian settlement with the Government of Canada.
The term “LGBT Purge” refers to a prolonged and widespread campaign by the Government of Canada to identify and expel thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members of the Canadian Armed Forces, the RCMP and the federal public service. Under this campaign, Canadians were investigated, sanctioned and, in many cases, terminated from their careers not because of anything they had done, but solely because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
This pan-Canadian settlement seeks to resolve claims arising from the LGBT Purge.
As stated by Kirk M. Baert, lead counsel at Koskie Minsky LLP, “The LGBT Purge caused tremendous harm to those affected. Their basic human rights were denied and they were treated as unworthy outcasts. This settlement recognizes the harm sustained by survivors of the LGBT Purge. We are hopeful that it will lead to a restoration of their dignity and that it will help to rectify these historical wrongs perpetrated by the Government of Canada.”
Koskie Minsky LLP is co-counsel in this class action with Cambridge LLP, IMK LLP, and McKiggan Hebert LLP.
Although the basic terms of the settlement are agreed, the parties are working together to complete the final settlement agreement. Once this has occurred, the settlement is subject to court approval. The terms of the settlement remain confidential at this time.
