CFS Agencies Currently, the Flette and Lavallee Settlement (regarding those in care of a Indigenous or Non-Indigenous CFS Agency) are being managed and Administrated together. The Administration of the Lafontaine (Métis) Settlement is separate. Autorité des services à l'enfance et à la famille des Premières Nations du Nord Awasis Agency of the Northern Manitoba Cree Nation Child and Family Caring Agency Island Lake First Nations Family Services Kinosao Sipi Minisowin Agency Nikan Awasisak Agency Inc. Nischawayasihik Cree Nation Family and Community Wellness Centre Opaskwayak Cree Nation Child and Family Services Agences des autorités du Sud Animikii Ozoson Child and Family Services Inc. Anishinaabe Child and Family Services Child and Family All Nations Coordinated Response Network Dakota Ojibway Child and Family Services Intertribal Child and Family Services Peguis Child and Family Services Sagkeeng Child and Family Services Sandy Bay Child and Family Services Southeast Child and Family Services West Region Child and Family Services Autorité générale des services à l'enfance et à la famille Child and Family Services of Central Manitoba Child and Family Services of Western Manitoba Jewish Child and Family Services Rural and Northern Service Eastman Interlake Parkland Northern Winnipeg Child and Family Services Agences métisses du CFS Metis Child and Family Services Authority Metis Child, Family and Community Services Agency Michif Child and Family Services Agency Southern Authority Agencies Animikii Ozoson Child and Family Services Inc. Anishinaabe Child and Family Services Child and Family All Nations Coordinated Response Network Dakota Ojibway Child and Family Services Intertribal Child and Family Services Peguis Child and Family Services Sagkeeng Child and Family Services Sandy Bay Child and Family Services Southeast Child and Family Services West Region Child and Family Services General Child and Family Services Authority Child and Family Services of Central Manitoba Child and Family Services of Western Manitoba Jewish Child and Family Services Winnipeg Child and Family Services Rural and Northern Service Eastman Interlake Parkland Northern

Stay informed with the latest news and updates on the Children's Special Allowances Settlement in Manitoba. Get important announcements, key dates, and developments related to the CSA class action lawsuit. News & Updates National news coverage Manitoba agrees in principle to $530M settlement for breach of CFS children’s Charter rights Global News conducts a short video interview with Minister Nahanni Fontaine, including a written story with comments from The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and Manitoba Métis Federation. $530M settlement for misappropriation of children’s special allowances in Manitoba APTN News on-air coverage of the settlement with clips of the plaintiff's comments from the press conference. ‘A clear victory for our kids’: Manitoba to settle with children in care This short article by APTN News highlights key points from the press release with a note that more coverage will follow. Manitoba to pay $530-million in settlement over children’s allowance The Globe and Mail provide a short overview of the settlement with quotes from Kris Saxberg, plaintiff Elsie Flette and Minister Nahanni Fontaine. Regional news coverage Manitoba OKs $530M settlement after judge found province improperly kept money from children in care CBC Manitoba gives an overview of the case highlighting quotes from plaintiffs Trudy Lavallee and Elsie Feltte, along with Manitoba Métis Federation President David Chartrand. Minister Nahanni Fontaine also commented omitting the misappropriation of funds was wrong. Manitoba agrees to pay $530M in settlement over children's allowance CTV News Winnipeg conducted on-air reporting accompanied by a written article. Kris Saxberg provided comments on both pieces. Quote: “When a child who's in care of an agency needs some funding to visit family members, to travel to visit and participate in ceremonial activities ... that all could have happened with these (Children's Special Allowance) dollars," lawyer Kris Saxberg said. Province agrees to $530-M settlement in CFS lawsuits Winnipeg Free Press focuses on plaintiffs Trudy Lavallee and Lee Malcolm-Baptiste's reaction to the settlement with quotes from Chris Saxberg. Quote: “The claimants will be awarded based on the principle amount of the benefits they had clawed back between 2005 and 2019, plus interest and 20 per cent awarded for discrimination damages, said lawyer Chris Saxberg at Cochrane Saxberg LLP. $530M settlement, donation sold: Morning Live CTV Morning news did a short segment highlighting the settlement using clips from the press conference.

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the Children's Special Allowances Settlement in Manitoba. Learn about eligibility, the claims process, important deadlines, and how to receive assistance with your CSA settlement application. FAQs About the Children's Special Allowance Actions Take your time reviewing the FAQs. If you do not find the answer to your question in the FAQs or the Documents , please contact the Claims Administrator . Settlement Information Who are Class Members Filing a Claim CFS Agencies Assistance for Class Members How Compensation is Calculated How Compensation Payments are Made Assessments and Appeals Other Important Information What is this lawsuit about? From January 1, 2005 to March 31, 2019, Manitoba forcibly took Children’s Special Allowances (CSA) Benefits from Child and Family Service Agencies in Manitoba, the legal guardians of children in care (the “CSA Policy”). This benefit is the equivalent to the Canda Child Benefit received by parents of children who are not in care, and should have been used exclusively for the benefit of the child for whom it was owed to under the Federal Children’s Special Allowances Act. In total, Manitoba wrongfully took more than $335 million from the Classes during this time, including approximately $298 million from the Flette/ Lavallee classes. In 2020, Manitoba passed legislation which deemed lawsuits regarding its CSA Policy to be dismissed, and retroactively legitimatized their wrongful CSA Policy during the claim period. In 2022, the Court found Manitoba’s actions to be unconstitutional and discriminatory. Afterwards, three class actions were certified to pursue recovery of the money taken by Manitoba, including the Flette/Lavallee class actions. Who is the Class? All provincially funded children in the care of a CFS Agency in Manitoba, except the Métis Agencies, at any time between January 1, 2005, and March 31, 2019, will be members of the Flette or Lavallee Class and entitled to compensation. The Flette/ Lavallee matters are being managed together; however, there is a third action, the Lafontaine Action that also reached an agreement in principle with Manitoba on March 19, 2024 and pertains to children in care the Metis Agencies between 2005 to 2019. It is possible a person may be a member of more than one class and entitled to compensation from more than one class action. For example, if a person was in the care of one of the Métis Agencies for a certain period of time, and in the care of a different child and family service agency for another period of time, and both periods of time were between 2005 and 2019, that person is likely a member of more than one class and is likely entitled to compensation from more than one class action. What is the Agreement in Principle? On March 19, 2024, the Plaintiffs reached an agreement in principle with the Government of Manitoba to settle the Flette/Lavallee Class Actions for a payment of $445,200,000 (the “Agreement in Principle” or “AIP”). Each Class member will receive a payment in proportion to the amount of time spent in care between January 1, 2005 and March 31, 2019 and the amount of CSA Benefits that were applied for, received and remitted to Manitoba and/or clawed back. A portion of the Settlement funds will pay for legal and other fees, including settlement administration. What are the next steps? This AIP was subject to Court approval; however, given that this is a “100% plus plus” award (i.e., every dollar plus interest is going back to the children), it would be virtually impossible for us to achieve a better result if this were to proceed to litigate damages. The Court approved the Settlement on September 5, 2024. Claims can start to be submitted on January 6, 2025 with the Claim Registration Period ending on January 5, 2027. The Claim Registration Forms are available on January 6, 2025 in a multitude of formats including online submission, downloading, mailing or pickup for hardcopy completion and submission. The Notice have contained information and instructions for the class when and how a class member can submit a claim. Notices were distributed widely through newspapers, social media, and among First Nations band offices and community organizations, among other methods to ensure we reach as many potential class members as possible. While the Settlement Agreement will require finalization and Court-approval which may change the following definitions, the following are current definitions of key terms: Provincial Child or Provincial Children means a child, except a Federal Child, in care. This CSA Settlement applies to Provincial Child or Provincial Children only. Federal Child or Federal Children means a child who: a. has, or is eligible for Indian status pursuant to the Indian Act; and b. at least one of whose parents or guardians are normally resident on reserve at the time the child enters care. Wards (also referred to as Children-in-Care) means a child who is or was in the care of an Applicable CFS Agency during the Class Period. Canada Child Benefit means the tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families pursuant to s. 122.6 to 122.63 of the Income Tax Act. The Canada Child Benefit was at times provided under its predecessor names and statutory authorities, those being the Canada Child Tax Benefit, the National Child Benefit, the Universal Child Care Benefit, and the family allowance pursuant to Family Allowances Act, 1973, SC 1973, c 44, s 1. CSA Benefit means the Children's Special Allowance (CSA Benefit) paid pursuant to the CSA Act (The Child and Family Services Act, CCSM c C80) with monthly amounts consistent with the Canada Child Benefit. Children-in-Care means a child who is or was in the care of an Applicable CFS Agency during the Class Period. Key Terms

Get in touch with us for any questions or assistance regarding the Children's Special Allowances Settlement. Find our contact information, including email, phone number, and office address. We're here to help with your CSA settlement inquiries. Contact Class Counsel Cochrane Sinclair is co-counsel for the Lavallee and can be reached at 1-204-594-6688 or csa@cochranesinclair.com . DD West is counsel for Flette and co-counsel for Lavallee and can be reached at 1-204-421-8655 or csa@ddwestllp.com . Website: https://www.cochranesinclair.ca Website: www.ddwestllp.com Claims Administrator The Claims Administrator is Exchange Solutions Inc. (EXG ). If you have questions regarding the Claims Process, please contact the Claims Administrator at no charge by calling 1-844-947-7101 or by email at info@csasettlement.com . Website: www.exg.ca Wellness Klinic Crisis Line 204-786-8686 1-877-435-7170 (toll free) https://klinic.mb.ca/crisis-support/ First Nations & Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line 1-855-242-3310 (toll free) Kids Help Phone Text “CONNECT” to 686868. Phone 24/7: 1-800-668-6868. The information on this website may be triggering or traumatic for visitors. There are wellness supports available here.