CANADA
CCN Matthews
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - Nov. 23, 2005) - In response to today's government announcement regarding an Agreement in Principle toward a fair and lasting resolution of the legacy of Indian Residential Schools, The United Church of Canada has released the following statement:
The United Church of Canada welcomes the Agreement in Principle on a comprehensive resolution package for former students of Indian Residential Schools announced this morning by the Government of Canada and the Assembly of First Nations.
The agreement is the result of a negotiation process launched under the Political Accord of May 30, which appointed the Hon. Frank Iacobucci as the federal negotiator and mandated him to recommend a lasting and fair resolution package. The negotiations included the federal government, the Assembly of First Nations and other Aboriginal organizations, the churches, and legal counsel for former students.
The United Church is pleased that the resolution package not only addresses the issues of compensation to former students for the common experience of attending the schools and compensation for individual abuses, but also provides resources for healing programs, a truth and reconciliation process, and commemoration. The United Church is committed to fulfilling its obligations under the agreement.