Court approves $36M for ex-residents in class action against Ontario institutions

An Ontario court has approved a $36-million compensation deal for people mistreated at 12 now-closed institutions for adults with mental disabilities.

Former residents of the facilities who were thereduring the 1960sto1990s brought the class-action suit against the provincial government. They hadalleged they were "emotionally, physically and psychologically traumatized" in the institutions and claimedthe province "failed to properly care for and protect" them.

• Class action: Ontario's mentally disabled go to court
• Settlement reached in Rideau Regional class-action lawsuit
• Huronia Regional Centre lawsuit ends in $35M settlement

The government announced Wednesday in a news release that the OntarioSuperior Court had approved the settlement.

In a statement, provincialAttorney General Madeleine Meilleur called the compensation fair.

"These individuals were harmed in a place that was intended to provide them with care, and while we cannot change the past, it is my hope that this settlement will help these individuals and their families to heal," said Meilleur.

Despitesettling the case, the province does not admit liability,

Some 7,800 people lived at the institutions during the relevant time period and could be eligible for a share of the compensation if they were abused, saidlawyerJodyBrown,an associate withKoskie-Minsky, the Toronto firm that represents the plaintiffs.

"The allegations were not proven in court, but some of the allegations made were that individuals were subjected to hitting or slapping by staff members or other residents, and some individuals alleged sexual assault," Brown said in a phoneinterview with CBCNews.

The lead plaintiff in the case, Marlene McIntyre of Barrie,recently turned70, said Brown.

The settlement applies to people who lived at12 facilities, during specific time periods:

• Adult Occupational Centre (Edgar):Jan.1, 1966, to March 31, 1999.
• Bluewater Centre (Goderich):April 1, 1976, to Dec.20, 1983.
• D'Arcy Place (Cobourg):Sept.1, 1963, to Dec. 31, 1996.
• Durham Centre for the Developmentally Handicapped (Whitby):April 1, 1974, to Sept.28, 1986.
• L.S. Penrose Centre (Kingston):April 1, 1974, to March 31, 1977.
• Midwestern Regional Centre (Palmerston):Sept.1, 1963, to March 31, 1998.
• Muskoka Centre (Gravenhurst):Aug. 28, 1973, to June 30, 1993.
• Northwestern Regional Centre (Thunder Bay):April 1, 1974, to March 31, 1994.
• Oxford Regional Centre (Woodstock):April 1, 1974, to March 31, 1996, or in what was then called"Mental Retardation Unit":Jan.1, 1969, to March 31, 1974.
• Pine Ridge (Aurora):Sept.1, 1963, to Aug.31, 1984.
• Prince Edward Heights (Picton):Jan.1, 1971, to Dec.31, 1999.
• St. Lawrence Regional Centre (Brockville):April 1, 1975, to June 30, 1983.

Similar settlements werereached in2013forformerresidents of other similar Ontariofacilities.

The class-action lawsuit overthe notorious HuroniaRegional Centre inOrilliaended with a $35-million settlement.Premier Kathleen Wynneformallyapologized inthe Ontario Legislatureto the victims of abuse and neglect at the facility.

The province separatelyagreed to$32.7 million in compensationfor ex-residents oftheRideauRegional Centre in Smiths Fallsand the SouthwesternRegional Centre near Chatham.