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December 8, 2002
TORONTO -- A nationwide class-action lawsuit can proceed on behalf of homosexuals denied survivor pension benefits from the government after their partners died, a judge ruled Friday.
Ontario Superior Court Justice Maurice Cullity said a 2,000-member British Columbia class-action lawsuit can join a similar lawsuit representing about 8,000 people across the country.
Quebec is not represented because it operates a separate pension plan.
The plaintiffs seek more than $260-million in benefits.
The lawsuit alleges discrimination by denying benefits to homosexuals whose partners died before 1998.