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ARCHIVED - RPP 2007-2008
Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada


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Section I – Overview

Minister's Message

Jim Prentice On behalf of Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada (IRSRC) , I am pleased to present to Parliament and the people of Canada the departmental Report on Plans and Priorities for 2007–2008.

IRSRC is dedicated to addressing the legacy of the Indian Residential School (IRS) system. Since Canada agreed to move forward with the Settlement Agreement in May 2006, a considerable amount of work has been completed in the Department to prepare for its implementation.

The Advance Payment Program announced in May 2006 ended on December 31, 2006 for elderly former students who resided at a listed IRS received a very high level of interest. I am pleased to announce that we have paid out more than $80 million to over 10, 000 elders.

Following implementation of the IRS Settlement Agreement, expected in the winter of 2007, former students, as well as their families, will have access to various individual and collective measures which are included in the Settlement Agreement. A Common Experience Payment will be available to all eligible former students of IRS, and an Independent Assessment Process for claims of sexual or serious physical abuse will be established. Measures to support healing will be developed, commemorative activities will take place, and a Truth and Reconciliation Commission will be established. All of this marks a significant milestone in our journey toward lasting resolution.

The coming years will be characterized by the move towards the successful implementation of the IRS Settlement Agreement. This period will bring this Department even closer to its goal: a fair and las ting resolution to the legacy of IRS. The Settlement Agreement will serve to foster reconciliation and build partnerships amongst former students and their families, and all Canadians.

This Report on Plans and Priorities describes the Department's agenda for the three-year planning period of 2007-2008 to 2009-2010 and sets out its commitment to resolve the legacy of IRS.

The Honourable Jim Prentice, P.C, Q.C, M.P.

Management Representation Statement

I submit for tabling in Parliament, the 2007-2008 Report on Plans and Priorities for Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada.

This document has been prepared based on the reporting principles contained in the Treasury Board Secretariat Guide for the Preparation of Part III of the 2007-2008 Estimates: Reports on Plans and Priorities and Departmental Performance Reports:

  • It adheres to the specific reporting requirements outlined in the Treasury Board Secretariat guidance;
  • It is based on the Department's Strategic Outcome and Program Activity Architecture that were approved by the Treasury Board;
  • It presents consistent, comprehensive, balanced and reliable information;
  • It provides a basis of accountability for the results achieved with the resources and authorities entrusted to it; and;
  • It reports finances based on approved planned spending numbers from the Treasury Board Secretariat in the Report on Plans and Priorities.

______________________________
Peter Harrison
Executive Director and Deputy Head

Summary Information

Reason for Existence


Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada is dedicated to addressing and resolving issues arising from the legacy of Indian Residential Schools. Within its mandate, the Department has undertaken to:

  • Work with former students of Indian Residential Schools, their families and communities, other federal government departments, provincial and territorial governments, Aboriginal peoples and organizations, Churches involved in running Indian Residential Schools, and other interested groups on the implementation of the Settlement Agreement and in support of initiatives that promote healing and reconciliation; and,
  • Resolve claims in a timely fashion, through litigation and other methods of dispute resolution that are compassionate for claimants.

Financial and Human Resources


2007 - 2008 (millions)

2008 - 2009

2009 - 2010

592.6

294.8

285.6


 


2007 - 2008 (FTEs)

2008 - 2009

2009 - 2010

604

559

605


Departmental Priorities


Description

Type

Priority 1: Supporting court approval and ensuring successful implementation of the Settlement Agreement.

ongoing

Priority 2: Resolving claims efficiently and compassionately through the National Resolution Framework.

ongoing

Priority 3: Maintaining effective and collaborative partnerships with Aboriginal peoples and their communities.

ongoing


Departmental Plans and Priorities


Priority 1: Supporting court approval and ensuring successful implementation of the Settlement Agreement


The Settlement Agreement announced on May 10, 2006, between the Government of Canada and legal counsel for former Indian Residential Schools students, legal counsel for the Churches involved in the running of the schools, the Assembly of First Nations and other Aboriginal organizations is designed to achieve a fair and lasting resolution of the legacy of Indian Residential Schools.

The Settlement Agreement requires the approval of the Courts in nine jurisdictions across Canada, and the Settlement Agreement has now been unconditionally approved subject to Canada addressing the Court's administrative concerns. It is anticipated that the formal approval of the Settlement Agreement may proceed in the coming weeks, and that the Department will in turn move toward implementation of the Agreement with the commencement of the Opt-Out Period in the next few months.

The Settlement Agreement also provides for the payment of fees to legal counsel who represented former students in the Settlement Agreement negotiation process and in many cases for some years prior to the beginning of the negotiations, for their work on behalf of former students. The Settlement Agreement sets out a verification process for all legal fees to be verified and approved by the Courts.

The Government believes that all elements of the Settlement Agreement, including the payment of fees to legal counsel are subject to appropriate verification and approval by the Courts. Given that former students need to prove that they resided at an eligible Indian Residential School to receive a Common Experience Payment, it is only reasonable and appropriate that legal counsel should have their bills verified as well.

Overview of the Settlement Agreement:

  • A Common Experience Payment will be paid to every eligible former student who was alive on May 30, 2005, the day the negotiations were initiated, who resided at a recognized Indian Residential School. The Settlement Agreement stipulates that $1.9 Billion be set aside for the direct benefit of former students of Indian Residential Schools. Subject to verification, each eligible former student who applies will receive $10,000 for the first year or part of a year of residence as well as an additional $3,000 for each subsequent year of residence;
  • An Independent Assessment Process will be available for a period of five years following the implementation date of the Settlement Agreement. This is an enhanced alternative dispute resolution process that will become the mechanism for former students to pursue claims of sexual and serious physical abuse, unless he or she has formally opted out of the Settlement Agreement;
  • Expanded access to Health Canada's existing Resolution Health Support Program to ensure that former students and their family members have access to mental health and emotional support;
  • A Truth and Reconciliation Commission will be established with a budget of $60 Million over five years. It will be mandated to promote public education and awareness about the Indian Residential School system and its legacy, as well as to provide former students, their families and communities an opportunity to share their Indian Residential Schools experiences in a safe and culturally-appropriate environment. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission will undertake a series of national and community events and will establish a research centre for ongoing access to the records collected through the work of the Commission;
  • Funding for Commemoration, for a total of $20 Million, to be made available for events and memorials to commemorate the legacy of Indian Residential Schools, to be managed by the Government in conjunction with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission;
  • An endowment of $125 Million for the Aboriginal Healing Foundation to allow for continued operations and funding of healing programs for former Indian Residential Schools students and their families;
  • Church entities involved in the administration of Indian Residential Schools will contribute up to a total of $100 Million in cash and services toward healing initiatives.

In recognition of the age of many former students, and in recognition of the length of time required for the approval of the Settlement Agreement, the Advance Payment Program was launched on May 10, 2006, in advance of the Common Experience Payment, for elderly former students who were 65 or older when the Settlement Agreement negotiations began on May 30, 2005. The Program has ended. Over 10,000 applications have been processed for payments of $8,000 each


Priority 2: Resolving claims efficiently and compassionately through the National Resolution Framework.

To this end, the Department strives to achieve its mandate and strategic outcome through the National Resolution Framework which includes an Alternative Dispute Resolution process, a litigation strategy, and a Mental Health Support Program.

The Alternative Dispute Resolution process, the centrepiece of the National Resolution Framework is designed to be a fair, safe and timely out-of-court option for resolving claims. The litigation process provides an option for former Indian Residential Schools students who choose not to participate in Alternative Dispute Resolution. The Department will continue to resolve claims through the existing National Resolution Framework. Although Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada has overall responsibility for the National Resolution Framework , program components of the Resolution Health Support Program will continue to be delivered and funded by Health Canada.


Priority 3: Maintaining effective and collaborative partnerships with Aboriginal peoples and their communities.

The Department continues to work with key stakeholders. Partnerships were strengthened through discussions and negotiations between the federal government and representatives of former students of Indian Residential Schools, the Churches involved in the running of the schools, the Assembly of First Nations and other Aboriginal organizations and throughout the implementation phase as we undertake preparations for the implementation date, expected on or around November 1, 2007.

The resulting Settlement Agreement speaks to the dedication and commitment of all stakeholders involved in negotiations and leads the way to stronger partnerships with Aboriginal peoples.