PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES NEW OFFICE OF INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS RESOLUTION OF CANADA

June 7, 2001
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced the creation of the Office of Indian Residential Schools Resolution of Canada. The Office will support the Deputy Prime Minister, the Honourable Herb Gray, in his role as lead Minister focussing federal efforts to resolve claims associated with the legacy of the residential school system.

The creation of the Office, which will report directly to the Deputy Prime Minister, demonstrates the government’s commitment to achieving a fair and equitable resolution of long-standing cases of abuse at Indian Residential Schools. Using existing resources, the Office will centralize and focus federal efforts and coordinate negotiations between the Government of Canada and major Church organizations concerning their shared responsibility for these claims. The Office will also examine how to resolve claims in or outside of the court system and implement the government’s wider objectives of healing and reconciliation with residential schools survivors and their communities.

Jack Stagg, appointed by the Prime Minister on May 29, 2001, will serve as Deputy Head of the Office and as Chief Federal Negotiator working with the Church leadership to resolve the issue of shared responsibility and compensation.

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Allison MacNeil
Deputy Prime Minister’s Office
tel. (613) 952-4900