CANADA
Canada NewsWire
OTTAWA, May 30 /CNW Telbec/ - The Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister responsible for Indian Residential Schools Resolution
Canada, the Honourable Irwin Cotler, Minister of Justice and Attorney General
of Canada, and the Honourable Andy Scott, Minister of Indian Affairs and
Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status
Indians, today announced the appointment of the Honourable Frank Iacobucci as
the Government's Representative to lead discussions toward a fair and lasting
resolution of the legacy of Indian residential schools.
"We need to make important changes to our approach in order to resolve
the often tragic legacy of Indian residential schools, and to settle the
outstanding claims of former students in a more timely way" said Minister
McLellan. "The work of the Assembly of First Nations, in particular, has been
instrumental in helping to highlight the need to recognize the residential
school experience of all former students. We have today signed a Political
Agreement with the Assembly of First Nations that sets out its key role in the
discussions to be led by Mr. Iacobucci" added the Minister.
The Political Agreement outlines the basis on which the Government of
Canada will work with the Assembly of First Nations on issues related to
resolution of the Indian residential schools legacy.