No fast-track payments for elders and sick residential school survivors
from http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2006/03/22/1500556-cp.html
Tories rule out fast-track payments for old, sick residential school victims
By SUE BAILEY - April 10
OTTAWA (CP) - The Conservatives will not fast-track $8,000 payments announced by the former Liberal government for sick and elderly former students of native residential schools.
Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice said Monday that a final version of a draft deal outlined by the Liberals last November must be reached first - "and that will form the basis of any payments that are made." Prentice said he hopes to receive a final agreement "shortly," but could not offer a time frame.
Victims groups and critics have blasted the Conservatives for not moving sooner. They say fast-track payments announced last fall were never contingent on a final agreement that must be approved by the courts.
Those owed compensation are dying at an estimated rate of more than 15 each week, they say. Many live in poverty.
Prentice blamed "one of the law firms" for "dragging its feet" in ongoing talks aimed at finalizing a compensation deal for about 78,000 former students who attended the once-mandatory schools.
He would not name the law firm. Several are involved as part of a consortium that launched a multibillion-dollar class-action lawsuit against the government.
A final compensation deal would effectively derail such cases.
Ottawa acknowledged in 1998 that abuse in the church-run institutions was rampant. More than 13,000 plaintiffs have since sued.
The Liberals announced last fall plans to offer every validated former student $10,000 plus $3,000 for each year spent in the schools meant to "Christianize" native kids.
Claimants who are sick or over age 65 were told they could apply for fast-track cheques of $8,000.
The Liberals were toppled days later. A new Conservative government has been in talks to reach a final deal since taking power more than two months ago.
But a lawyer involved in the negotiations says the Tories could still offer early payments to those who might not see justice otherwise.
"There's nothing stopping the Conservatives to do it," says Darcy Merkur of Thomson Rogers, the Toronto-based law firm that spearheaded a national class-action lawsuit for former students.
"Our clients are very, very anxious and this is long overdue," Merkur said.
Liberal MP Anita Neville, aboriginal affairs critic, said the delay has dashed hopes and caused confusion.
"We've been hearing many stories of elders who are either calling their aboriginal leadership or the (Indian Affairs) department and saying: "When are we getting our money?"
"There's a real fear that people are going to die first."
Under the draft deal, estates will be able to collect compensation for those who died after May 30, 2005, said lawyers tracking the issue. But claimants must make their wishes known through a will to avoid having the money tied up in legal red tape, they say.