The federal government is appealing a judge's decision to certify a $600 million class action lawsuit against the attorney general for alleged excessive use of force by RCMP against northern Indigenous people, according to CBC Canada.

The lawsuit was launched in federal court in December 2018 by lead plaintiff Joe Nasogaluak. The class-action is seeking $500 million in damages and $100 million in punitive damages from the federal government.

It claims Ottawa was "systemically negligent in the funding, oversight, operation, supervision, control and support of its RCMP detachments, and RCMP members who committed assaults against the plaintiff and class members in the course of their duties in the Territories."

Justice Glennys McVeigh gave the class certification in June 2021, allowing it to go ahead as a class action lawsuit in federal court.