The new federal minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations wants to know the reasons behind the government’s decision to drop its appeal against a court ruling exempting the Catholic Church from paying compensation to victims of residential schools for Indigenous children.
“I’m as puzzled as anyone,” says Marc Miller. I don’t know what we can do now. “
A Saskatchewan judge ruled in July 2015 that an agreement existed between the federal government and a group of Catholic entities under which they were exempt from their obligation to pay the balance of the $ 79 million or to offer in-kind services owed to victims.
At the time, the judge said in particular that these groups “had done their best” to raise $ 25 million for the victims. She would then have collected only $ 3 million.
During the Truth and Reconciliation Commission from 2008 to 2015, thousands of Indigenous people recounted how they had been neglected, starved, physically or sexually assaulted in residential schools run by the Catholic Church and subsidized by the federal government.
One wonders about the reasons why the victims did not obtain more compensation from the Catholic Church. Others point to the federal government’s decision to drop its appeal against the Saskatchewan judge’s decision.
“I wonder why this decision was made,” says Miller. Like anyone, I am perplexed. Finally, the fundamental issue focused on the issue of compensation. “
After losing its case, the Harper government appealed in August 2015. At the time, Canada was plunged into an election campaign that ended with the victory of Justin Trudeau’s Liberals.
In November of that year, the new government announced that it was dropping its appeal.
Marc Miller was only a newcomer to the House of Commons at the time. He says he has never seen the agreement exempting Catholic groups from their obligation, but intends to take a look.
“I absolutely want to read it. I want to get to the bottom of things, ”he promises.
Marc Miller succeeded Carolyn Bennett, who was strongly contested by First Nations chiefs.
Hours after being sworn in to his new post, Miller said the time had come to return land to Indigenous people.
“It seems unfair to me to have examples of pieces of land that have been handed over,” he stressed. He wants his officials to work with other departments, such as National Defense, to find ways to give back land.
“People need to keep in mind that relations are broken with the indigenous peoples who were here before us. This will only be achieved by giving them back territory. “