All survivors of Indian Residential Schools should receive all compensation to which they are entitled under the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement – and our government is working hard to ensure that.
Unfortunately, some public voices continue to distort the truth about what the government is doing.
In 2014, the Courts ruled that the government of the day took an overly narrow view of what documents needed to be shared with survivors.
Since that time, our government has ensured the Court’s orders have been followed to the letter.
Let me be very clear: ALL documents the courts have required Canada to disclose in the Independent Assessment Process have been provided– without exception.
To quote the Ontario Superior Court’s most recent decision about this case: “The evidence shows that Canada has kept its promise and continues to keep its promise.”
Canada remains committed to ensuring the fair and lasting resolution of claims filed under the Independent Assessment Process.
Respectful, fair settlements can help survivors on their healing journey.
As we have learned from the recent decisions, lawyers are being asked to pause and consider their actions as they pursue what is best for former students.
The adversarial setting of the courts should only be used as a last resort and it is not fair to claimants to raise issues that have already been decided.
98 per cent of all Indian Residential School claims have been settled.
Most of the remaining claims are the most complicated and difficult cases – and we are committed to resolving them while still preserving the integrity of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.
This settlement agreement was agreed to by all sides in order to bring closure and finality to as many Residential School survivors as possible.
It is by ensuring this process concludes in the original spirt of the agreement that we can turn more of our attention to healing, commemoration, and restoring lost language and culture.
