A settlement has also been reached with the Province of British Columbia for persons who were infected with the Hepatitis C Virus ("HCV") as a result of tainted blood received in this Province. KPMG Inc. has also been appointed claims administrator pursuant to this particular settlement.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM ELIGIBLE UNDER THE CANADIAN RED CROSS SETTLEMENT?

As a primarily infected claimant If you received blood anywhere in Canada prior to January 1, 1986 and between July 1, 1990 and September 28, 1998 inclusively, and this blood was contaminated with the Hepatitis C Virus, you may be eligible to receive compensation under the Canadian Red Cross Settlement.

As a secondarily infected claimant As well, if you were infected with HCV through contact with a person who received blood, as described above, you may also be eligible.

As a family member of infected persons All living spouses, children, parents, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren of primarily infected claimants may be eligible.

In order to determine with precision your eligibility, you must refer to the eligibility criteria which are clearly defined in the Distribution Protocol document, accessible via this website.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM ELIGIBLE UNDER THE BRITISH COLUMBIA SETTLEMENT?

A person who is a primarily infected claimant, is approved for the Canadian Red Cross Settlement and establishes that his or her claim arises from blood received in British Columbia will automatically qualify for additional payments from the settlement with that Province. Contrary to the Canadian Red Cross Settlement, secondarily infected claimants as well as family members of infected persons, will not receive payments under this settlement.

HOW MUCH WILL I RECEIVE?

If you are a primarily or secondarily infected claimant, it is impossible to determine with precision at this date, what kind of payment you will receive. The Canadian Red Cross Society settlement creates a fund of approximately $63 million to be distributed between claimants, whose claims have been approved by the Claims Administrator, namely KPMG Inc. Thus, the amount you will receive will depend on the number of approved claimants.

With regards to payments to family members, these cannot exceed $800 in total and will be deducted from the payment to the primarily or secondarily infected claimants.

If you are also eligible under the British Columbia Settlement, you will receive additional payments, also unknown at this date for the reasons indicated above, from the $6.5 million fund created by this Province.

WHEN WILL I RECEIVE PAYMENT?

The Hepatitis C Virus ("HCV") fund will be open for 10 years with the monies paid out in three (3) instalments.

50% of the HCV fund will be paid to qualified applicants who apply for compensation prior to March 30, 2002. The first payment will be made within 60 days of March 30, 2002. This payment shall be calculated by dividing 50% of the monies available in the HCV fund on that date in equal shares among the accepted claimants.

A second payment will be made within 60 days of September 30, 2004.

Finally, a third payment might be made within 60 days of September 30, 2011, if there are sufficient funds available. Payments to approved claimants under the British Columbia Settlement fund, shall be paid in the same manner.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO NOT SEND MY CLAIM BEFORE THE FIRST PAYMENT IS MADE BY THE ADMINISTRATOR?

Even if you submit your claim after the first payment is made, and assuming your claim is accepted by the Administrator, you will still be entitled to receive a payment equal to the first amount paid to the other claimants. However, this payment will only be made with the second payment, which is due within 60 days of September 30, 2004.

 

KPMG Consulting, Inc. is an independent consulting firm and is not affiliated with KPMG International or any KPMG member firm.

© 2001 KPMG LLP, the Canadian member firm of KPMG International, a Swiss association. All rights reserved.