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5 | The IFP -H alton H ills | T hursday,M arch 18,2021 theifp.ca NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT APPROVAL THIS NOTICE IS TO ALL INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVED DENTAL SERVICES PRIOR TO JUNE 9, 2017 AT THE OFFICE OF DR. VIVEK (VICK) HANDA AND UPPER MIDDLE DENTAL LOCATED AT 1900 WALKERS LINE IN BURLINGTON, ONTARIO READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY AS IT MAY AFFECT YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS 1.What is the purpose of this Notice? This Notice is for all persons who received dental services from DR. VIVEK (VICK) HANDA, UPPER MIDDLE DENTAL and VICK HANDA DENTISTRY PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION ("the Defendant"), prior to June 9, 2017, and their family members. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has approved the settlement of this class action against the Defendant on behalf of the Class. The class action alleged that the Class Members were exposed to Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and/or HIV after receiving dental services from the Defendant prior to June 9, 2017. The Defendant has agreed to pay the all-inclusive sum of $1,611,500 CAD to settle the claim. The Settlement Agreement constitutes a compromise of all disputed claims, without any admission or findings of liability or wrongdoing against the Defendant. The detailed terms of the Proposed Settlement are set out in the Settlement Agreement between the parties. The Settlement Agreement and Distribution Protocol can be found at www.handadentalsettlement.com. 2. Who can submit a claim? Class Members can claim part of the Settlement Fund on the following basis: (A) The Class Member was exposed to Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and/or HIV after receiving dental services from the Defendant prior to June 9, 2017, and may have seen a doctor and/or gone for laboratory testing, but did not contract Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and/or HIV (the "Exposed Class"); or (B) The Class Member contracted Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and/or HIV after receiving dental services from the Defendant prior to June 9, 2017 (the "Infected Class"); (C) The Class Member contracted Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and/or HIV from a member of the Infected Class who had already contracted Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and/or HIV after receiving dental services from the Defendant prior to June 9, 2017 (the "Cross-Infected Class"); and (D) All living parents, grandparents, children, siblings and spouses within the meaning of section 61 of the Family Law Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.F-3, as amended, of the persons described in paragraphs (B) and (C) above (the "FLA Class"). 3. How do I submit a claim? To be eligible to receive part of the Settlement Fund, Class Members must submit a completed Claim Form to the Claims Administrator, RicePoint, postmarked by no later than June 14, 2021. Class Members who have received prior notices by mail will receive an additional Notice setting out the particulars for submitting a claim. This written Notice will provide Class Members with a unique Claim ID and PIN with directions to access a secure Website URL that will allow each Class Member to file a claim electronically. The Website will prompt the Class Members to enter their unique Claim ID and PIN into two text fields. Further instructions and directions will be given at that time. If you have not received written Notice from the Claims Administrator and require a unique Claim ID and PIN, please immediately contact: Handa Dental Claims Administrator c/o RicePoint Administration Inc. P.O. Box 4454, Toronto Station A 25 The Esplanade Toronto, ON M5W 4B1 1-866-761-0345 Class Members will be required to provide proof of their identity and attest to various statements. Once the claims period has expired, and the Claims Adjudication process has been completed for all Class Members except the Exposed Class, payments under the Settlement Agreement will be distributed to Class Members by RicePoint. 4. How do I get more information? For more information, or if you have any questions, please email Class Counsel at the address below: Claims Administrator: Class Counsel: Handa Dental Claims Administrator c/o RicePoint Administration Inc. P.O. Box 4454, Toronto Station A 25 The Esplanade Toronto, ON M5W 4B1 Flaherty McCarthy LLP Attention: Sean A. Brown Toronto-Dominion Centre 95 Wellington Street West, Suite 1000 Toronto, ON M5J 2N7 Email: info@handadentalclassaction.com The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has authorized distribution of this Notice. Questions about this Notice should NOT be directed to the Court. The Town of Halton Hills has been firmly against the GTA West Cor- ridor project since it was first proposed more than a decade ago. That opposition is now being echoed by officials in neighbouring communi- ties -- and beyond. Two Halton-area MPs are urging Premier Doug Ford to halt construction. "It's not something we need -- and environmen- tally it's a disaster," said Oakville North-Burlington MP Pam Damoff, who penned a letter to Ford alongside Milton MP Adam van Koeverden. In the letter, they cite a number of reasons to stop the project -- from paving over environmentally-sen- sitive lands to exacerbating sprawl and climate change. With an estimated price tag of $6 billion, studies show the new highway would save the average commuter between 30 and 60 seconds per trip. Instead, investing in GO Train improvements could show more effective re- sults, the Halton MPs be- lieve. Said Damoff, "Investing in public transit would be far better money spent than building a highway. We've already got the 407 that isn't used." "I am certainly hearing from people in my riding they don't think this high- way is needed. I hope they take these concerns to heart." These concerned mir- ror what Halton Hills offi- cials have expressed for years. "The whole highway is an environmental con- cern," said Halton Hills town and regional Coun. Jane Fogal, noting that construction would knock out 2,000 acres of farmland, and 400 acres of the Green- belt. "That land cleans our water -- if you keep paving it, it's not going to work." Recently, longtime sup- porters of the project have had a change of heart. On March 2, the City of Vaughan yanked its sup- port of the GTA West Corri- dor, citing too many red flags and uncertainties. The City of Brampton and the Town of Caledon -- both longtime supporters of the highway expansion -- are now pushing for a federal environmental as- sessment, citing concerns over the province's stream- lined process. Fogal added that in terms of addressing transit issues, "there are ways to do it that are much more ef- fective, cheaper, and re- quires much less public in- vestment." Among those options could be a dedicated truck lane on the 407, or GO Train improvements. Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott admits he's heard little support lo- cally for the project. "I hear from people on both sides of most every is- sue, but the vast majority of communications I've re- ceived on this has been op- posed." Arnott has spoken against the plan numerous times since it began in 2007. "I feel that our commu- nity is owed some answers on this issue by the Minis- try of Transportation." Halton Hills Climate Ac- tion is planning two social- ly-distanced rallies in op- position to the proposed highway on March 20. The first will take place at 1 p.m. in Georgetown at the cor- ner of Mountainview Road and Guelph Street, fol- lowed by another at 2 p.m. at Queen Street and Chur- chill Road in Acton. NEWS OPPOSITION TO GTA WEST HIGHWAY MOUNTING BRYAN MYERS bmyers@metroland.com The GTA West highway project is facing major criticism. Metroland file photo