The proposed settlement is not yet approved. The Court will be asked to approve the proposed settlement at the Settlement Approval Hearing.
Your Options
Learn about your options under the proposed settlement so you can decide what is right for you.
You can take time to learn about the proposed settlement and decide what to do next. You may be included in the Birth Alerts BC Class Action if a Birth Alert was issued about you in British Columbia.
What is a Birth Alert?
A Birth Alert was a notice sent by a child welfare worker from the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) or delegated Indigenous agencies to a hospital saying that a pregnant person’s child was in need of protection and that the hospital should notify child welfare authorities from MCFD when the pregnant person arrived at the hospital to give birth or when the baby was born. Many people did not know this message had been sent. Some only learned about it years later. Others may still not know it happened to them.
What is the Settlement Approval Hearing?
The Settlement Approval Hearing is when the Supreme Court of British Columbia will decide whether to approve the proposed Settlement.
The hearing is scheduled for December 4, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at the Vancouver Courthouse.
You do not need to attend the hearing. Class Counsel will attend and answer the Court’s questions. If you object and ask to speak at the hearing, you may be able to do so.
Your options
You have several options under the proposed settlement. You can choose to:
- Stay in the proposed settlement and submit a Claim for compensation
- Opt out of the proposed settlement
- Object to the proposed settlement
- Do nothing
Stay in the proposed settlement and submit a Claim
If you stay in the proposed settlement, you can submit a Claim for compensation.
If your Claim is approved, you will receive compensation.
Indigenous class members who submit an approved Claim will receive additional compensation.
You will not be able to start your own legal action against the Province for the Claims that are released in this class action.
There are a few different ways to receive and submit your Claim Form.
1. Submit your Claim using the online Claims portal.
2. Download the Claim Form, fill it in, and mail or fax it with copies of your identification and other documents.
3. Call a Claims Helper who can mail a copy of the Claim Form to you. Your completed Claim Form can be sent back by mail or fax with copies of your identification and other documents.
Opt out of the proposed settlement
You can choose to opt out of the proposed settlement. This means:
- You remove yourself from the class action
- You will not receive compensation from this Settlement if it is approved
- The proposed settlement will not apply to you
If you opt out, you can still take legal action on your own, but you will need to pay your own legal costs. You may wish to speak with a lawyer before making this decision.
How to opt out
To opt out, you need to complete an Opt Out Form. You can download and complete the Form or you can have one sent to you by calling the Info Line at 1-833-632-6557.
Your completed Opt Out Form needs to be sent by December 8, 2026.
You can submit the form in several ways:
- By Email: Info-BABC@BirthAlertsBC.ca
- By Fax: +1 833 233 2982
- By Mail:
Notice Provider, Birth Alerts BC Class Action
c/o Castlemain
688 Rue Saint Joseph, Winnipeg MB R2H 3E2
Claims Helpers can support you in understanding the process or completing the form.
Object to the proposed settlement
If you disagree with the proposed settlement, the Distribution Plan, or Class Counsel’s request for legal feels, you can share these concerns with the Court.
You can:
- send in a completed Objection Form
- ask to speak in Court about your objection if you choose
If you object:
- The Court will consider your concerns before making a decision
- You can still submit a Claim for compensation if the proposed settlement is approved
Objecting does not remove you from the proposed Settlement.
How to object
To submit your objection, you need to complete an Objection Form. You can download and complete the Form or you can have one sent to you by calling the Info Line at 1-833-632-6557.
You need to submit your completed Objection Form by November 20, 2026.
You can submit the form in several ways:
- By Email: Info-BABC@BirthAlertsBC.ca
- By Fax: +1 833 233 2982
- By Mail:
Notice Provider, Birth Alerts BC Class Action
c/o Castlemain
688 Rue Saint Joseph, Winnipeg MB R2H 3E2
Claims Helpers can support you in understanding the process or completing the form.
Do Nothing
You can choose to do nothing:
- You will not receive compensation unless you submit a Claim
- You will remain part of the proposed settlement
- If the proposed settlement is approved, it will still apply to you
This means you will not be able to start your own legal action against the Province for the Claims that are settled in this class action.
What is the difference between objecting and opting out?
Objecting to the proposed settlement and opting out are not the same thing.
- Object: Objecting means you are staying in the proposed settlement, but you want to tell the Court that you disagree with part of it.
- Opt-Out: Opting out means you are choosing not to be part of the proposed settlement. You will not receive compensation from the proposed settlement.
If you have any questions about objecting to or opting out of the settlement, call the Info Line at 1-833-632-6557 or email at Info-BABC@BirthAlertsBC.ca.
