Strahl Still Has High Hopes For Truth Commission

Strahl Still Has High Hopes For Truth Commission

Wednesday, February 04, 2009 at 13:26

 

 

The federal minister of Indian Affairs says he’s confident the Truth and Reconciliation Commission can still fulfill its mandate within the original five-year timeframe.

 

Chuck Strahl says considerable efforts are being made to ensure that whoever is selected to sit on the commission understands exactly how things are to be run.

 

It was announced last week that the two remaining commissioners have decided to resign.

 

Their decision comes in the wake of Justice Harry Laforme’s departure late last year.

 

The former commission chair said he couldn’t work with the other two commissioners because they weren’t following his direction.

 

Strahl says they’re making sure all the people nominated for the vacant posts know they have to work together.

 

But Strahl can’t say how potential disagreements between the three new commissioners will get settled.

 

He also won’t say how they’ll be chosen, noting leaders from across the country have different opinions on where the commissioners should come from.

 

There is no stipulation that the commissioners be survivors themselves.

 

The final selections for the commission will be rubber-stamped by his department before they’re sworn in.

 

But Strahl insists he won’t be involved in the day-to-day running of the commission, and it will have independence.