Docken & Company News

Deal announced for residential school students

(2/11/2009) Indian Affairs and Northern Development Minister Jim Prentice has finally announced a long-awaited deal to compensate former students of native residential schools. The $2 billion deal, which will provide financial compensation as well as healing and education programs for abuse suffered at the schools, is expected to be cleared by Prime Minister Stephen Harper's cabinet in the coming days. It will then be subject to approval by courts in several provinces. "The government will now immediately consider the settlement agreement and the interim payments and the timing of those payments," Prentice told the House of Commons Tuesday. About 78,000 surviving residential school students would qualify for compensation under the program. Harper has said his government is ready to act on the deal as soon as possible, but the majority of those who qualify for compensation aren't expected to receive payment until early next year.

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