Regarding Canada Student Loan Information Loss
On January 11, 2013, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada ("HRSDC") announced that an external hard drive containing personal information of approximately 583,000 Canadians had gone missing. On January 17, 2013, Jensen Shawa Solomon Duguid Hawkes LLP ("JSS Barristers") filed a proposed Class Action against the Government of Canada alleging that HRSDC breached the privacy rights of Canadians who borrowed student loans through HRSDC between 2000 and 2006. The Claim alleges that personal information of borrowers was recorded or stored on the external hard drive that had been reported as missing from an HRSDC office. The Claim alleges that the personal information of borrowers, and in some cases their parents/guarantors, included Social Insurance Numbers, dates of birth, addresses and student loan amounts and balances.
Several other proposed Class Actions were also filed across Canada shortly after HRSDC's announcement. Each of the proposed Class Actions addresses the same subject matter and seeks the same or similar relief from the Government of Canada.
In an effort to streamline litigation and to better represent the interests of affected Canadians, several law firms formed a consortium (the "Class Action Consortium") to advance proposed Class Actions. The Class Action Consortium now consists of Branch McMaster LLP, Sutts, Strosberg LLP, Falconer Charney LLP and Bob Buckingham Law. JSS Barristers has agreed to cooperate with the Class Action Consortium so that there is not a multiplicity of proceedings. JSS Barristers has also agreed to support the Class Action Consortium's efforts in advancing a proposed Class Action in the Federal Court.
For an update on the current status of the proposed Federal Court class action, and to register for this proposed class action, please visit the Class Action website at: www.studentloansclassaction.com.
Update: July 2018
This matter has settled and the settlement received Court approval. More information can be found at www.studentloansclassaction.com. Links to the Notice of Settlement Approval (in English and French) are here:
Update: December 2017
Please see the links below for the Notice of Proposed Settlement in English and in French:
Update: March 17, 2014
The Federal Court certified the Class Action.