THE IRVINGS LANDS IN QUEBEC COURT!!!!!

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January 24, 2006

Attention News Editors:


Class Action Against Irving Oil
MONTREAL, Jan. 24 /CNW Telbec/ - Option consommateurs and Mrs. Ginette
Béchard filed a Motion for authorization to institute a class action against
Irving Oil on January 20, 2006. According to the Petitioners, the oil company
overtaxed gasoline prices.
The Fuel Tax Act requires Quebec consumers to pay a tax of a few cents
for each litre of fuel they purchase. The law also provides for a lower rate
of tax in border regions in order to take into account competition between gas
stations on both sides of the border. This tax is also reduced in regions
termed "peripheral" or "designated".
However, on May 25, 2004, the Court of Appeal ordered Irving Oil to
reimburse $884,779.00 in overcharged taxes. In its judgment, the Court reveals
that from January 1993 to December 1997, the oil company charged customers
taxes which were higher than what was permitted under the law at its service
stations located near the Quebec / New Brunswick border. The oil company would
have done the same thing in other regions. This was a repeat offence. Indeed,
in 1993, the multinational corporation was ordered to remit over $188,000.00
to Revenue-Quebec for a similar infraction.
In so doing, Irving Oil would have contravened not only the Fuel Tax Act,
but also the Competition Act, the Consumer Protection Act and the Civil Code
of Quebec. Consumers would thereby have incured losses caused by the
multinational. The class action aims at compensating consumers.
Option consommateurs and Mrs. Ginette Béchard are represented by two
attorneys: Eric David of the firm Beauregard and Partners, and David Schulze
of the firm Hutchins Grant & Partners.

Created in 1983, Option consommateurs (formerly ACEF-Centre) is a non
profit organization dedicated to defending and promoting the rights of
citizen-consumers. To accomplish its mission, the organization has undertaken
more than twenty class actions and closely follows the energy sector.

For further information: Jannick Desforges, Head of the legal
department, Option consommateurs, (514) 598-7288