United Church Endorses Compensation Agreement
Tuesday, May 02, 2006 at 15:10
Officials with the United Church of Canada say they are prepared to sign a compensation agreement for residential school survivors.
The decision was made over the last few days at a meeting of the church’s General Council executive in Toronto.
Reverend James Scott notes the church has previously resisted entering into agreements with the federal government over residential schools, but the church likes this deal because it deals with healing and a truth and reconciliation process — not just compensation.
As part of the agreement, the United Church will agree to pay $6.8 million for compensation and healing programs — a good chunk of which Scott says has already been paid.
The church has already participated with the government in hundreds of individual abuse settlements with victims.