Time for provinces to settle: lawyer
A class action lawyer representing thousands of plaintiffs affected by the ’60s Scoop is calling on provincial governments across the country to settle outstanding lawsuits in the wake of a landmark decision by the federal government to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to an estimated 20,000 survivors.
“We have a settlement against the federal government but it has an impact on the provincial governments because if one defendant says, ‘We recognize the wrong,’ implicitly it says to the other defendant, ‘You also were in the wrong,’ ” Tony Merchant of Merchant Law Group LLP said hours after the $800-million settlement was officially unveiled.
The federal government on Friday confirmed reports that it will pay up to $750 million to survivors classified as status Indians and Inuit, plus up to $50 million to start a new foundation dedicated to healing and reconciliation. The government made the announcement as a means of dealing with multiple class-action lawsuits.
Merchant said he hopes the federal decision will lead to further settlements from the provinces, especially for non-status Indians and Metis people not included in the national deal. He added that Merchant Law Group’s action in Saskatchewan has been delayed by the federal settlement and it is not yet clear what the outcome will be.
“We will hope to see an inclusive agreement that leaves no one behind,” FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron said in a statement on Friday. “We need an agreement that will provide strong support with mental health and reconciliation of families and Nations, we cannot stress enough that this should not leave anyone out.”
News of the settlement drew mixed reactions in Saskatchewan. Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations vice chief Kim Jonathan praised it as an important step toward reconciliation while emphasizing cash payments will not guarantee healing. A University of Regina professor and survivor said the settlement is too low and that it fails to address problems facing Indigenous children today.