12°c Light rain
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Ottawa must hand over documents on residential schools: judge
OTTAWA – An Ontario judge has sided with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and ordered the federal government to hand over all relevant documents on residential schools.
Justice Stephen Goudge ruled the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, signed in 2007, obligates the government to produce all relevant documents, regardless of where they are housed.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission took Ottawa to court in December after not all federal departments complied with requests to get the documents.
The TRC is mandated to create a record of the history of residential schools in Canada. During the court hearings in Toronto, TRC lawyers argued Ottawa refused to hand over any documents it had obtained from churches for legal reasons, and that Ottawa said it wasn’t obligated to identify and provide relevant documents from Library and Archives Canada.
Justice Goudge disagreed.
TRC’s lawyer, Julian Falconer, said this is a landmark decision.
"This was about ensuring survivors and their families have some control over their history," he said.
More than one million documents have been handed over thus far but there are more than one million more outstanding, Falconer said. Only one of 24 departments which have acknowledged having residential school documents in archives have even done a search, he said.
A spokesman for Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan said the government is reviewing the court ruling.
"We will continue to fulfill our obligations under the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement to address the legacy of the Indian Residential Schools," said Jason MacDonald.
More than 150,000 aboriginal children were forced into residential schools between the 1880s and early 1980s, as Canada embarked on a mission of assimilation. The schools were run by the churches for the government. Many students told stories of physical and sexual abuse and the imprint of residential schools is still largely blamed for the rampant social problems facing aboriginal Canadians today.
In 2008, Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized on behalf of the government of Canada for the saga of residential schools.
The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement was approved by the courts in 2007 as the result of a class-action suit by survivors of residential schools. In addition to establishing the TRC, the settlement offered compensation to survivors as well as additional compensation to victims of abuse.
More FP News Top Story
- Back to Top
- Return to FP News Top Story
More FP News Top Story
(1 of 30 articles for this month)
Tiger Woods wins Players Championship as Garcia's hopes drown on island-green 17th
05/12/2013 8:41 PM 0
Poll
Most Popular FP News Top Story
- Unidentified victims of Bangladesh collapse buried as more graves are readied; toll now 420
- Nigeria, beset by violence from Islamic extremists, sets up committee on offering amnesty deal
- Sens-Habs series gets ugly:Eric Gryba suspended two games for Lars Eller hit
- Dates set for recreational food fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Actress Sophie Turner drops hints on 'Game of Thrones' season 3
- Harper defends pulling out of UN desert convention, says it is too bureaucratic
- Amanda Berry, 1 of 3 women freed after held captive in Ohio home, arrives at sister's home
- Pakistani model's tattooed nude photo in Indian magazine causes uproar
- Canadian woman among four dead "in pursuit of her dream" climbing Everest
- Pressure grows to improve human rights for transgender people in Newfoundland
- Unidentified victims of Bangladesh collapse buried as more graves are readied; toll now 420
- Dates set for recreational food fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Pakistani model's tattooed nude photo in Indian magazine causes uproar
- Car bomb at French Embassy in Libyan capital wounds 3 in latest sign of deepening lawlessness
- Israeli archaeologists discover ancient clay seal in Jerusalem, suggest link to Temple ritual
- Nigeria, beset by violence from Islamic extremists, sets up committee on offering amnesty deal
- Police: Boston Marathon bomb suspect fired shots from boat, hospitalized in serious condition
- Pressure grows to improve human rights for transgender people in Newfoundland
- Father of Rehtaeh Parsons pleads for new law against malicious harassment online
- Amanda Berry, 1 of 3 women freed after held captive in Ohio home, arrives at sister's home
- ESPN says it regrets that reporter described gay NBA player Collins as a sinner
- Pakistani model's tattooed nude photo in Indian magazine causes uproar
- Unidentified victims of Bangladesh collapse buried as more graves are readied; toll now 420
- Census 2011 makes history: population in the West surpasses that in the East
- As Boston mourns, suspected brothers' radicalism comes into focus
- Dates set for recreational food fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Car bomb at French Embassy in Libyan capital wounds 3 in latest sign of deepening lawlessness
- Israeli archaeologists discover ancient clay seal in Jerusalem, suggest link to Temple ritual
- Elections Canada wants greater punishment powers in wake of robocalls debacle
- Still no winner for $50 million Lotto Max jackpot, but Manitoba has a $1 million winner
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.