Class Actions Act to come into effect April 1

Justice Minister Kelvin Parsons announced today that the Class Actions Act will be proclaimed into force on April 1 of this year.

The Class Actions Act provides a new framework for class action suits. The new legislation will increase access to justice, allowing groups to pursue court action without the individual burden of litigation. Class action cases involving a large number of claimants will be more efficiently dealt with in one venue, thereby easing the judicial system from having thousands of individual claims clogging the Newfoundland and Labrador courts.

"Class action legislation presents many potential benefits, not the least of which is judicial economy," said the minister. "It will make proceeding with actions more affordable for individuals."

Class action legislation can also act as a form of behaviour modification for large corporate defendants. Class action rules will allow many people with smaller, but valid claims to proceed with their action collectively.

"Class actions allow justice to be done on a grand scale while maintaining efficiency of the court system," said the minister. "The Class Actions Act will revolutionize the way the people of Newfoundland and Labrador can address their wrongs while at the same time it substantially increases the accessibility of our justice system."

"This new legislation, along with the enactment of the Citizens� Representative Act and the Freedom of Information Act, shows this government�s commitment to empowering the people of Newfoundland and Labrador," said Minister Parsons.

Media contact: Edwina Bateman, Communications (709) 729-6985.

2002 03 28                       11:05 a.m.