TORONTO, Oct. 5, 2017 /CNW/ – Koskie Minsky LLP in Toronto announces that survivors of the Sixties Scoop have entered into a pan-Canadian settlement with the Government of Canada.
The term "Sixties Scoop" refers to the practice in Canada whereby Aboriginal children were taken ("scooped up") from their families for placing in foster homes or adoption with non-Aboriginal homes. These "scooped" children lost their identity as Aboriginal persons and suffered mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically.
Class actions on behalf of survivors of the Sixties Scoop have been commenced across Canada. This pan-Canadian settlement seeks to resolve these claims.
The settlement between Sixties Scoop survivors and Canada will create a foundation funded by Canada to enable change and reconciliation, access to education, healing and wellness, and to commemorate activities for communities and individuals. The foundation will be funded with at least $50 million dollars.
The settlement will also provide compensation to all "Indians" (as defined in the Indian Act as those registered or entitled to be registered as Indian) and "Inuit" persons who were removed from their homes in Canada from 1951 to 1991 and placed in the care of non-Indigenous foster or adoptive parents. The settlement provides that Canada will pay at minimum $500 million and at maximum $750 million to qualified claimants.
As stated by Kirk M Baert, lead counsel at Koskie Minsky LLP, "We thank the Government of Canada for coming to the bargaining table and offering a generous compensation package to claimants. We are particularly proud of the foundation and its prospect of creating lasting change and healing, something that could only be established through a negotiated resolution and not through the courts. Finally and most importantly, we are grateful to the representative plaintiffs Pricilla Meeches, Stewart Garnett, Wendy White, Sarah Glenn, and Simon Ash for their dedication to this case and their commitment to advancing the rights of Sixties Scoop survivors. Without them, none of this could have been achieved."
Although the basic terms of the settlement are agreed, the parties are working together to complete the final settlement agreement. Once this has occurred, the settlement is subject to court approval.
SOURCE Koskie Minsky LLP
For further information: Media Inquiries: Kirk M. Baert, kmbaert@kmlaw.ca, T: 416-595-2092
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