Victim not entitled to more funds

A teacher who was shot in the face at a school in La Loche in 2016 says she’s disappointed the Saskatchewan ombudsman has determined she can’t be compensated for pain and suffering under government rules.

Charlene Klyne, a substitute teacher, lost all vision in her left eye and can only see dark shadows in her right eye. She has numerous pellets lodged in different spots from her jaw to her chest that can’t be removed by surgery.

Last year, she complained that workers’ compensation payments weren’t enough to cover her bills.

The provincial government asked ombudsman Mary McFadyen to review the case and she said Wednesday that Klyne has received all the support provided by government programs and workers’ compensation.

“Through no fault of her own, Ms. Klyne was badly injured at work in a horrific event. We looked at the government agencies within our jurisdiction and found they provided her the supports that were within their authority to provide,” McFadyen said in a release Wednesday.

“Those benefits did not include compensation for pain and suffering.”

Klyne, who hasn’t been able to work since the shooting, said she’s disappointed with the ombudsman’s review. She said the province hasn’t upheld its commitment to take care of the victims of the deadly school shooting.

“It is part of the government, and they are sweeping everything under the carpet — like I’ve said since this happened,” she said in an interview with The Canadian Press. “They just want us to go away and ignore the whole situation.”