Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Feb. 12th, 2009

[Caroline Davis]

With regard to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, I could perhaps refer to the supplementary estimates that were tabled at committee. What they did was quite unusual in government terms. They have allocated the budget for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for the five years that it will be operating as an entire amount. Usually, for instance, a five-year program would be divided into five parts in the estimates. The money that's been approved for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission will be rolling over from year to year, and the government has given approval for the rollover. So I would argue that the budgetary restraint on it is considerably less than it would be for somebody like myself.

With regard to the independent assessment process on abuse cases, which I believe is what you were referring to, the adjudicators are selected and are independent of government, so the process of reviewing with individual claimants acts outside of public service employees. We only get involved when the claim has been decided and it becomes a question of payment. So that process is independent.

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

The other questions are for my colleague.

[Todd Russell, Liberal, Labrador, NL]

I want to go back to the independent assessment process. You said there were 9,361 claims received. How many do you anticipate receiving, or does the government have a number? There are some reports as high as 14,000 to 18,000 potential claims. Was there a projection when the agreement was done up of how many claims they would receive?

[Caroline Davis]

We're estimating at about 12,000. Obviously, as history continues, that estimate is quite soft.

[Todd Russell, Liberal, Labrador, NL]

So it could go much higher.

[Caroline Davis]

It could do, yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

That's it, unfortunately, Mr. Russell. Thank you very much, and to Madame Folco.

We're going to Mr. Albrecht for three minutes.

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I just want to say how important it was to me, having been present the day the apology was delivered, and also on that day having the opportunity to speak to many of the residential school survivors and to feel the sense of hope for renewed relationships. I think that's significant. I hope we don't lose sight of the big picture in all of this. I think today we're struggling with some of the logistics of getting the hard work done now.

I certainly want to follow up on the concerns that Mr. Rickford mentioned earlier of trying to mitigate the risks of having this money become actually a negative in the lives of anyone, aboriginal or non-aboriginal. I'm glad to hear that you indicated there are some measures in place to help that.

I had one question. You said the average common experience payment is $20,500, and then the independent assessment process ranges from $5,000 to $430,000. Would that be in addition to the common experience or would that be separate?

[Caroline Davis]

That's an addition. It's in cases of specific abuse. The common experience payment went to everyone who was at a residential school, and as I said, only some of them actually suffered specific cases of sexual or physical abuse.

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Thank you.

Would you be able to just flush out a little for us...? On page 4 of your comments you outlined a number of the initiatives that are in place to help aboriginal people, such as the Aboriginal Healing Foundation. We obviously later will want to talk about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The $125 million endowment to the Aboriginal Healing Foundation and the Health Canada support program of $95 million over five years are significant investments. Could you maybe just give us a bird's-eye view of how that money will be allocated and what different programs are in place within those foundations to get that work done? I know that's a big question.

[Caroline Davis]

It's difficult to speak for the Aboriginal Healing Foundation because it is an independent one. It has prepared a number of volumes of summaries of impacts that the residential school system had that I feel form part of a very important historical record. It is also working with communities on individual projects to promote healing. It might be interesting for you to read its annual report.

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

I have looked at it in previous years. I haven't recently. I guess the question I'm trying to get at, if I have another three seconds, is if any of its work is preventative in nature, especially considering this new layer that's been placed onto all of us now with the common experience payment and the independent assessment program.

[Caroline Davis]

I'm not sure I can specifically answer on behalf of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, but if I could, we do have a program that provides public information to communities and works with them on the impacts. We will be carrying forward funding for that into the next fiscal year, so there would be some scope for working with communities to try to mitigate some of these potential impacts.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Thank you, Mr. Albrecht. Now we'll go to the Bloc.

Mr. Lemay, three minutes.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Ms. Davis, one thing seems essential to me. I was looking for it in your opening remarks, but I will say it in my own words.

In your introduction, one must not loose sight—and I assure you that none of the members here have any political designs with regard to this issue—of the fact that the money absolutely must be paid to the aboriginals. I think that your mandate is clear. In my opinion, it is very important to remind you of this. I think that I don't even need to remind you, you appear to be a very sensible person. Everything must be done so that the aboriginals receive what they are entitled to. Many people in my riding experienced horrible things in the boarding school and it will never be possible to help them and turn them back into the people they were before, but at least we should help them by making sure that the financial compensation is paid to them.

We know that the religious communities will be paying out $100 million. How are you going to ensure that this amount, $100 million or more, which is specified in the Departmental Performance Report for the period ending March 31, will be paid out and will go to the Aboriginal Healing Foundation?

[Caroline Davis]

You're referring to the money that the church is providing in services in kind. We will be doing an evaluation of the whole settlement agreement, and we are in discussions with the church groups continually. I think we can give you some assurance that indeed the church groups regard this with the amount of seriousness that you do and that we all do, in fact. So I'm very hopeful on that.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

The Aboriginal Healing Foundation is extremely important in this entire process. Is it doing well? Is it operating well? Is the $125 million paid out helping aboriginal people overcome these traumatic events?

[Caroline Davis]

Certainly. From what I've read in its annual reports and the documents that it has sent out, I would say that it's been a very positive influence in this area.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Mr. Lemay, you still have thirty seconds if you wish.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

I'm going to give that time to Madame or Monsieur

As long as they are not using it for political purposes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Mr. Duncan.

[John Duncan, Conservative, Vancouver Island North, BC]

Merci, Monsieur Lemay.

I have residential schools in my area--or had--and family members who were in residential schools. The apology cannot be underestimated. I've seen the impact it's had on individuals, on those who wouldn't speak about their experience with their own family members until such time as that apology kind of broke things open. We have individuals who actually talk about the good experience they had in the school. They could have been with a brother or sister in the very same school who had exactly the opposite experience. This has been a very emotional time for many people, but it has been good in that it's brought process to the exercise, and I think it's brought families back together that were driven apart.

I would like to ask a little more on the Health Canada support program of $95 million over five years. I realize we don't have Health Canada here, but do you have any idea what the expectation is that the money would be used for?

We had the comment from Jean Crowder of the NDP that the crisis line doesn't always work. I'm quite sure she's correct on that matter, but there are other provisions that you have referenced in your talk.

[Caroline Davis]

Perhaps I could mention this from my own personal point of view. I was in Edmonton yesterday and happened to cross a meeting between the director of the Alberta regional health support workers and her workers.The majority of the workers are aboriginal themselves, so they're able to provide a culturally appropriate service. They do indeed work directly in the communities. They provide counselling, and they work with the elders so that the elders can provide further support. They also provide transportation to counselling sessions or work with people who are in need of further counselling to deal with their traumas.

I am extremely impressed having met with these people. There were about 25 of them there. I was very impressed with their level of dedication and indeed their ability to deal with people who might be suicidal or who might in fact be threatening violence against other people.

I do believe the work they're doing is bearing fruit and is going to aid the survivors and the communities.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Thank you very much.

Members, we are out of time if we're going to switch over to the next topic. I thank you for your indulgence and patience with the smaller room here today as well.

Madam Davis, we appreciate your presentation this morning.

We'll take a brief two-minute break while we switch over, and then we'll proceed with the next subject.

Thank you.