Case name:
Dollarama Environmental Handling Fee (“EHF”) – National Class Action Settlement
Quebec Superior Court file #:
500-06-001243-233
What this class action was about:
On May 29, 2023, a Quebec consumer (the “Plaintiff”) filed a proposed class action in the Superior Court of Quebec against Dollarama regarding the prices advertised and charged by Dollarama for products subject to Environmental Handling Fees (“EHFs”) they sold in Canada (for example: batteries, electronic products, lightbulbs or toys with batteries). The Plaintiff essentially alleged, among other things, that Dollarama did not properly advertise (display) the price of products subject to EHFs it offered for sale and that it charged a total price or EHFs higher than displayed for these products or allowed by law.
Dollarama denies the Plaintiff’s allegations, denies any liability or wrongdoing and was prepared to vigorously contest the proposed class action, and no Court has concluded that there was any wrongdoing by Dollarama.
Dollarama Settlement Class:
All persons who purchased a product subject to an Environmental Handling Fee (“EHF”) from Dollarama in Quebec between December 11, 2019 and July 4, 2023, or elsewhere in Canada between April 29, 2021 and July 4, 2023.
Terms of the Dollarama Settlement:
The Settlement Agreement provides for the following, subject to Court approval:
Dollarama has agreed to pay a total amount of $2,643,718.75 (the “Settlement Amount”) to be used to notably compensate Approved Claimants in the form Interac E-Transfers, between a minimum of $3.00 and a maximum of $10.00 each, depending on the total number of Approved Claimants. Each Approved Claimant can only get one Interac E-Transfer regardless of the number of products subject to Ecofees they purchased from Dollarama during the Class Period. If the total number of Approved Claimants results in Interac E-Transfers worth less than $3.00 each, no Interac E-Transfers will be made and the Distribution Fund will be paid to charities approved by the Court. In addition to paying the Settlement Amount, Dollarama has voluntarily implemented business practice changes, detailed in the Settlement Agreement, regarding how it displays the price of its products subject to Ecofees.
For more information about the details of the Dollarama National Settlement, please read the long-form notice and Settlement Agreement accessible below.
There is no action for you to take at this time. If the Settlement is approved by the Court after the December 2, 2024, Settlement Approval Hearing, you will be able to complete a claim form within the Claim Deadline on the Settlement Website: www.dollaramaehfsettlement.com
Status:
On October 9, 2024, the Superior Court of Quebec authorized the class action for settlement purposes only with Dollarama. The Dollarama National Settlement approval hearing will take place on December 2, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. in room 15.04 of the Montreal Courthouse. You can attend the hearing virtually via TEAMS by clicking here.
Documents:
