British Columbians Divided on Providing More Compensation for Residential School Victims

Global News
October 7, 2013

http://globalnews.ca/news/887158/british-columbians-divided-on-providing-more-compensation-for-residential-school-victims/

A First Nations woman cheers while taking part in the Walk for Reconciliation in Vancouver, B.C., on Sunday September 22, 2013. Thousands of people attended the walk that wrapped up a week of Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada events in the city.

British Columbians are divided on providing more compensation for victims of the residential school system, according to a new poll.

46 per cent of people surveyed in a new online poll conducted by Insights West support more compensation for victims, while 43 per cent oppose the idea. British Columbians in the highest income brackets are more likely to oppose additional compensation for residential school survivors at 49 per cent against.

British Columbians overall are in favour of more education, official apologies and conferences on abuses suffered by Aboriginals in the residential school system.

44 per cent of British Columbians say they are familiar with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a fact-finding group established by the federal government. 42 per cent of British Columbians say society as a whole needs to do more to help Aboriginals who were part of the residential school system.

73 per cent of people support providing more education for young Canadians on the impact of residential schools. 70 per cent of people supported more official government apologies to victims.

Pollster Mario Canseco says younger Canadians are more supportive of more education and conferences than their older counterparts.

“The mandate of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is to learn the truth and inform all Canadians about what transpired at residential schools,” said Mario Canseco, Vice President, Public Affairs at Insights West. “It is important to note that British Columbians aged 18-to-34 are more likely to echo the call for more education, media coverage and conferences.”

40 per cent of British Columbians were not aware of the reconciliation walk that took place September 22 in Vancouver. 58 per cent of people said they had saw, heard or read about the event and two per cent had participated in it.