ARCHIVED - Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada

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Section I—Overview

Minister's Message

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 2008-2009.

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

The coming years will be characterized by the successful implementation of the IRSSA. This period will bring this Department even closer to its goal: a fair and lasting resolution to the legacy of IRS. The IRSSA 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 2008-2009 to 2010-2011 and sets out its commitment to resolve the legacy of IRS.

 

The Honourable Chuck Strahl, P.C, M.P.

Management Representation Statement

I submit for tabling in Parliament, the 2008-09 Report on Plans and Priorities (RPP) for Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada.

This document has been prepared based on the reporting principles contained in Guide for the Preparation of Part III of the 2008–09 Estimates: Reports on Plans and Priorities and Departmental Performance Reports:

• It adheres to the specific reporting requirements outlined in the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat guidance;
  
• It is based on the department's strategic outcome(s) 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 of Canada Secretariat.

 

Peter Harrison
Executive Director and Deputy Head

Raison d'être

Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada is dedicated to resolving the legacy of the Indian Residential School system. 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 Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) and in support of initiatives that promote healing and reconciliation; and,
• Resolve claims in a timely fashion, through dispute resolution methods and litigation that are compassionate for claimants.

Organizational Information

The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians is the Minister responsible for Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada.

As illustrated in the organizational chart below, the Minister is supported by the Department's Executive Director and Deputy Head. The Executive Director and Deputy Head is accountable for the overall management of the Department, strategic policy direction, and the provision of executive support to the Minister.

The Department's organizational structure changed over the year to better meet the mandate to resolve claims and address issues arising from the legacy of Indian Residential Schools as well as the larger objective of reconciliation and building a new relationship with Aboriginal peoples.

The current organizational structure is shown on the next page.

Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada

January 2008

The Executive Director and Deputy Head is directly supported by the Assistant Deputy Minister, Resolution (ADM), the Interim Executive Director, Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), and the Executive Director, Independent Assessment Process (IAP). He is responsible for ensuring the successful implementation of the IRSSA and the continued resolution of claims under the National Resolution Framework.

The ADM is accountable for providing the executive leadership for the management and operations of Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada, including the development and implementation of key departmental priorities, issues and policies to enhance the Department's capacity to promote and advance its transformation to implement the IRSSA.

The Interim Executive Director, TRC is responsible for establishing the TRC and for ensuring that preparations have been completed to enable Commissioners to begin addressing their mandate. The Interim Executive Director is also responsible for providing professional leadership and rigorous attention to detail in identifying the requirements associated with setting up the Commission and in developing and implementing accountability systems and other Treasury Board requirements while respecting the TRC mandate.

The Executive Director, IAP is accountable for the operation of the IAP Secretariat, ensuring that it meets the objectives and enforceable requirements of the IRSSA with respect to IAP. The Secretariat must be operated and managed in a way that supports the requirements for independence and scrutiny and as such reports to the Chief Adjudicator, while also reporting to the Executive Director and Deputy Head of IRSRC on his accountability requirements. The Secretariat is required to resolve a minimum of 2,500 claims per year and meet the 9 month standard for scheduling hearings. Moreover, the position requires that effective measures are in place within the Secretariat to receive the automatic and elective transfer of thousands of claims from the current Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) model.

The Director General, Policy, Partnerships & Communications, is accountable for developing and monitoring the implementation of the Department's strategic policy framework and providing policy advice and support. The Director General is also responsible for internal and external communications, media relations, strategic planning, and Parliamentary Affairs, including liaison with Parliamentarians and the Minister's Office; outreach to Aboriginal communities, Indian Residential Schools survivor societies, and the general public; liaison with national and regional Aboriginal organizations; and the strategic management and administrative delivery of the Commemoration Program and the Advocacy and Public Information Program. This Branch also oversees the Partnership Agreement Program and coordinates implementation of IRSSA activities.

The Director General, Corporate Services, is accountable for managing and providing corporate leadership in the development of programs, plans, and strategies to integrate and ensure the integrity of corporate priorities in finance, administration, materiel management, procurement, Information Technology, Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) Program, records management, and performance management.

The Director General, Dispute Resolution Operations, is accountable for the management of operations relating to the ADR Process and litigation, and ensuring that claims, including top-up settlements under the IRSSA, are administered and resolved in accordance with established program authorities, processes, and the approved compensation framework.

The Director General, Common Experience Payment and Research is responsible for processing all Common Experience Payment applications within the Department, assessing eligibility of Applicants, establishing and maintaining a Reconsideration Process, and assisting in the Appeals Process. The Branch is also responsible for all historical research in support of the Common Experience Payments, the Independent Assessment Process, the ADR Process, the litigation process, ATIP requests, additions to the list of Indian Residential Schools, and potentially any historical research requirements of the TRC. The Branch also processes documents submitted by parties in the ADR Process and IAP and manages departmental information concerning settlements.

The Director General, Human Resources is responsible for establishing the framework for the management of human resources within the Department from classification to staffing, and learning and development.

The Chief Audit and Evaluation Executive (CAEE) is responsible for the development and conduct of an audit program and of an evaluation program. The CAEE is also responsible for all audit related liaison with the Office of the Auditor General and the Office of the Comptroller General, as well as evaluation related liaison with the Treasury Board Secretariat. The CAEE provides support to the independent outside Audit Committee.

Voted and Statutory Items displayed in the Main Estimates

Departmental Planned Spending and Full-time Equivalents

Forecast spending in 2007-08 is in line with the Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates. The planned spending for 2008-09 decreases considerably from the 2007-08 forecast spending. This reflects the fact that a number of one-time expenses, such as the Contribution and Grant to the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, the payment of legal fees, and the funding for the TRC were included in planned spending for 2007-08. The planned spending for 2008-09, 2009-10, and 2010-11 is a function of the focus on the IAP Secretariat.

Summary Information

Financial Resources ($ millions)

Human Resources (FTEs)

Departmental Priorities

Program Activity by Strategic Outcome

Departmental Plans and Priorities

Priority 1: Ensuring successful implementation of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.

The IRSSA 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 Indian Residential Schools legacy. As required by class action legislation, the IRSSA was approved by the Courts in nine Canadian jurisdictions on March 21, 2007, and implementation began on September 19, 2007, 30 days after the conclusion of the opt out period.

There are four major activities involved with implementation of the IRSSA: CEP, IAP, Legal Fees, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The Department will continue to process claims and manage the appeals process under the CEP program. For the IAP, the Department will ensure that it is functioning as per the requirements of the IRSSA. Requests for reimbursement of legal fees will also continue to be processed as per the IRSSA. The Department will continue to work towards the establishment of the TRC.

Priority 2: Resolving claims remaining under the National Resolution Framework.

The Department will continue to process claims submitted prior to the approval of the IRSSA on March 21, 2007, via the ADR Process and litigation, which remain under the National Resolution Framework.

The ADR Process, the centrepiece of the National Resolution Framework, was designed to be a fair, safe and timely out-of-court option for resolving claims. The litigation process provided an option for former students who chose not to participate in the ADR Process.

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

Partnerships were strengthened throughout discussions and negotiations between the federal government and representatives of former Indian Residential Schools students, the Churches involved in the running of the schools, the Assembly of First Nations, and other Aboriginal organizations.

The IRSSA speaks to the dedication and commitment of all stakeholders involved in negotiations and leads the way to stronger partnerships with Aboriginal peoples. The Department will continue to work with Aboriginal partners towards a successful implementation of the IRSSA.

The Commemoration program portion of the IRSSA will enhance the well-being of former students, their families and communities; bring closure to the Indian Residential Schools experience; and help former students, their families and communities to move forward. The Advocacy and Public Information program will ensure the Aboriginal community is informed of the benefits available through the IRSSA.

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