加拿大近日正式迎來一件歷時超過二十年的重大消費者集體訴訟案的收尾。安大略省高等法院已批准一項總額高達5億加元的全國性和解協議，而這項和解正是針對加拿大歷史上最具爭議的「袋裝麵包價格操縱事件」。只要民眾曾在2001年至2021年之間購買過袋裝麵包，就有資格申請賠償，最高金額可達25加元。

這起事件最早在2017年掀起震撼。當時，加拿大最大零售集團之一Loblaw突然公開承認，旗下公司在長達14年的時間裡，與多家競爭對手協調提高袋裝麵包價格。每條麵包因此至少被悄悄墊高約1.50加元，讓全國消費者在不知情的情況下支付了更高的生活成本。這項公開承認引發國內軒然大波，媒體形容此案是加拿大零售史上的「世紀大案」。

為了平息外界強烈批評，Loblaw曾在2018年主動推出「Loblaw Card Program」，向民眾提供25加元禮品卡作為初步補償。然而，這個舉動並未終結爭議。隨著調查深入，包括Metro、Sobeys、Walmart Canada、Giant Tiger、Canada Bread等大型連鎖超市陸續被指涉及共同操控價格，整個加拿大麵包市場的串通、壟斷全貌才逐漸清晰浮現。

長期的法律攻防後，Loblaw與其母公司George Weston最終同意與全國消費者達成和解，支付總額約5億加元。2025年5月7日，安省高院法官Ed Morgan正式批准這份協議。根據判決內容，4.04億將以現金方式發放，另有9600萬則以先前禮品卡計畫的形式計入補償。扣除律師費與相關訴訟費後，賠償金將按地區分配：其中78% 分給魁北克省以外的加拿大居民，22%則留給魁北克省民眾。

至於申請者資格，條件相對寬鬆。只要在2021年12月31日時年滿18歲，且當時為加拿大居民，便能申請。魁北克民眾需透過專屬網站進行申請。此外，申請者必須在2001年至2021年間確實購買過袋裝麵包，且用途為自家消費而非轉售。那些曾在2018年領取過Loblaw禮品卡的人並未被排除，依然能再次申請，並有機會獲得額外補償。

和解金的最終金額將依申請人數決定，若截止時仍有剩餘，將按比例追加分配。不過，若最終計算的賠償金額低於5加元，則不予發放。

隨著法院批准，這樁纏訟多年、影響全國消費者的麵包價格操縱案正式進入最後階段。對許多人而言，這筆補償金或許不算巨大，但它象徵的是對多年不公平定價行為的追究，也是加拿大消費者權益史上重要的一個里程碑。

Canada is now seeing the conclusion of one of the longest-running and most significant consumer legal battles in its recent history. The Ontario Superior Court has officially approved a nationwide settlement worth a total of $500 million CAD, bringing closure to the country’s infamous “packaged bread price-fixing scandal.” Anyone who purchased packaged bread in Canada between 2001 and 2021 is eligible to claim compensation, with individual payouts reaching up to $25.

The roots of the case can be traced back to 2017, when Loblaw—one of Canada’s largest retail groups—made a stunning admission. The company publicly acknowledged that for 14 years, it had coordinated with competitors to raise the price of packaged bread. Each loaf, according to their own statement, had been artificially inflated by at least $1.50, affecting millions of consumers nationwide. The revelation sent shockwaves across the country, and the scandal was widely described as a “once-in-a-century case” in the Canadian retail sector.

In an attempt to contain the public backlash, Loblaw launched the Loblaw Card Program in 2018, offering $25 gift cards as a form of preliminary compensation. But this gesture did little to calm the storm. As investigations expanded, more major chains—Metro, Sobeys, Walmart Canada, Giant Tiger, Canada Bread, and others—were accused of participating in coordinated price manipulation. What emerged was a picture of an entire national market being influenced by secretive price-fixing agreements.

After years of litigation, Loblaw and its parent company George Weston agreed to a nationwide settlement. On May 7, 2025, Justice Ed Morgan of the Ontario Superior Court gave formal approval. Under the agreement, $404 million will be distributed as cash compensation, while the remaining $96 million will be credited through previously issued gift cards. Once legal and administrative fees are deducted, the remaining compensation will be allocated geographically: 78% for residents outside Quebec and 22% for residents within Quebec.

The eligibility requirements are straightforward. Applicants must have been at least 18 years old and a Canadian resident as of December 31, 2021. They must also have purchased packaged bread for personal use—not for resale—at any time between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2021. Quebec residents must file through a dedicated provincial portal. Importantly, those who already received a Loblaw gift card in 2018 are still allowed to apply again and may receive additional compensation.

Once all claims are processed, any remaining funds will be redistributed proportionally among eligible claimants. However, payments calculated below $5 will not be issued.

With the court’s approval, this long-running case—one that affected nearly every household in the country—has reached its final phase. While the compensation amounts may be modest, the settlement represents a significant moment for consumer rights in Canada and marks accountability for years of unfair market practices.