Source: https://www.torys.com/insights/publications/2016/11/is-it-still-possible-to-challenge-a-class-action-in-quebec-at-the-authorization-stage
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 02:38:00+00:00

Document:
Is it Still Possible to Challenge a Class Action in Québec at the Authorization Stage?
In 2016, the Québec Court of Appeal has allowed no less than five appeals from judgments that refused to authorize class actions. In Charles v. Boiron Canada inc.,1 Sibiga v. Fido Solutions inc.,2 Lambert (Gestion Peggy) v. Écolait ltée,3 Blouin v. Parcs éoliens la Seigneurie de Beaupré 2 et 3, s.e.n.c.,4 and Masella v. TD Bank Financial Group,5 the province’s highest court overturned the decisions of the Superior Court and authorized these class proceedings. These decisions, which follow the Supreme Court of Canada's recent trend of advocating a broad and liberal interpretation of the four criteria for authorizing class actions, once again reduce the burden on plaintiffs in Québec. Although it is still possible to successfully challenge a class action at the authorization stage, it is clear that the number of options for challenging authorizations has once again been reduced.
This is particularly true in the context of consumer law cases. In both Sibiga (related to the allegedly excessive or abusive nature of international mobile data roaming fees charged by wireless telephone service providers to their customers) and Boiron (related to allegedly misleading or deceptive advertising concerning a homeopathic product), the Court of Appeal has lessened the already low burden of proof applicable to the colour of right and to the ability to properly represent class members criteria.
Description and Composition of the Class. Despite recent case law, a proposed class that contains a limited number of members remains solid ground for challenging an application for authorization to institute a class action. Moreover, the only first instance judgment denying such an application that has been affirmed by the Court of Appeal in 2016 has been upheld on this basis: the proposed class only had 12 members, which is insufficient to justify the authorization of a class action.10 A circular, imprecise or subjective description of the class, as well as the lack of prima facie evidence relating to the existence or composition of the class, are also possible grounds for challenge.
The appearance of a conflict of interest between the plaintiff and the members of the proposed class remains a valid ground for challenge.
In class actions outside the consumer law context, it is still possible to oppose an application for authorization on the basis that the plaintiff does not have the competence to act as a representative, especially if no reasonable investigation has been conducted with regards to the existence of the class.
6 Masella, at paras. 7, 9 to 11, 14 and 18; Écolait, para. 40 and 42.
7 Écolait, at para. 28.
8 Écolait, at paras. 34 to 41.
9 Sibiga, at paras. 59 to 63.
10 Zoungrana v. Air Algérie, 2016 QCCA 1074.
11 Boiron, at para. 55; Sibiga, at para. 109.
12 Sibiga, at paras. 102 to 104.
13 Écolait, at para. 69.

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