The bread-fixing settlement money could soon roll out. How to get yours

Money could soon roll out to those eligible under two class-action lawsuits accusing Loblaw and its parent company of engaging in an industrywide bread price-fixing scheme.

Canadians could soon get a piece of two class-action settlements accusing Loblaw and its parent company of engaging in an industrywide scheme to fix the price of bread, but there are still some steps left before the money rolls out.

Before anyone can claim money, both class-action settlements against Loblaw and parent company George Weston Ltd. must be approved in court.

Earlier this month, the settlement that was filed in Ontario was approved by Judge Ed Morgan, who said the $500-million settlement was excellent, fair and in the best interest of class members.

The second was filed in Quebec and is expected to be heard by a judge for potential approval June 16.

“If the settlement is approved, it will resolve all claims against Loblaw and Weston related to this matter,” a press release from Strosberg Wingfield Sasso LLP and Orr Taylor LLP said in March when announcing the proposed settlement.

Should both class-action settlements be approved, a settlement agreement posted online says 78 per cent of the funds will be allocated to the Ontario suit to be distributed to people in both that province and the rest of the country.

The other 22 per cent will go towards the Quebec lawsuit and those in that province.

Individuals and businesses that are eligible are automatically included in the Ontario class action, with the same for Quebec residents under the lawsuit in that province.