Survivors Hope To Make Plight An Election Issue

Survivors Hope To Make Plight An Election Issue

Friday, October 03, 2008 at 15:16

Timing is everything, according to the organizer of a residential school conference tomorrow in Ile-a-la-Crosse.

Don Favel says he’s hopeful the looming federal election will prompt candidates in the riding of Desnethe Missinipi-Churchill River to firmly state how they plan to include the village’s boarding school in the list of schools eligible for compensation.

The candidates have been invited to attend tomorrow’s event.

Favel says he’s also encouraged the boarding school issue was included in the recent protocol signed between Ottawa and the Metis National Council.

Guests invited to the event include Truth and Reconciliation Commission chair Harry Laforme, Roman Catholic archbishop Sylvain Lavoie, and FSIN chief Lawrence Joseph.

Favel isn’t sure Laforme will be able to make it out for the conference, but says commission officials are supposed to be there.

He believes their presence will be helpful in the bid to change the government’s stance on the issue.