Immigrant Detainee Class Action Commenced Against Ontario and Canada

TORONTO, Aug. 11, 2016 /CNW/ - Koskie Minsky LLP and Henein Hutchison LLP have commenced a class action against the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario alleging human rights violations relating to the treatment of immigrant detainees in Ontario's prisons.

The statement of claim issued on August 11, 2016 alleges, among other things, that the Canada Border Services Agency and the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services have been negligent, have breached their fiduciary duties and have breached the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in incarcerating immigrant detainees in Ontario's correctional facilities.

The class includes all migrants detained by the Canada Border Services Agency and incarcerated in a provincial prison between December, 2003 and the present. The Plaintiffs' lawyers believe that thousands of people will be included in this class proceeding.

Godday Dadzie, an Ivory Coast national incarcerated in the Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay, Ontario, and Al Zeekehmens, a Liberian national incarcerated in Maplehurst Correctional Complex in Milton, Ontario are the proposed representative plaintiffs.

Kirk Baert, a partner at Koskie Minsky LLP, stated "for too long, the governments of Ontario and Canada have ignored ongoing human rights violations in their own institutions. Innocent migrants are being housed in abhorrent conditions, often indefinitely, without being charged with a crime."

Scott Hutchison, a partner at Henein Hutchison LLP, stated "immigrant detainees are being incarcerated for years in the same sub-standard conditions as convicted criminals. This practice is shocking and the responsible government actors should be held accountable".

SOURCE Koskie Minsky LLP

Website: kmlaw.ca/idclassaction, Toll Free number: 1-866-777-6309, Email: [email protected]; Or contact Kirk Baert at 416-595-2117