Lawyers paid $45M in residential school case

Tuesday, November 27, 2007  

The Canadian government has paid $45.6 million to lawyers in the Native residential school abuse case.

The payment went to a consortium of lawyers who have worked on the case. Meanwhile, many who went to school have yet to receive their share of the $1.9 billion payout.

"Why did they get paid first … and we never got nothing yet, the survivors, a lot of us?" Roy Sanderson, who went to a school in Saskatchewan, told CBC News. Horace Ratt of the Prince Albert City Police said only 25 percent of claims have been processed.

Another group of lawyers is seeking a $25 million payout, though the bill is being disputed by the government.

Get the Story:
Ottawa pays $45.6M to lawyers involved in residential school cases (CBC 11/26)
Schools being reviewed for compensation (The Prince Albert Daily Herald 11/27)

Relevant Links:
Residential Schools Claims - http://www.residentialschools.ca
Assembly of First Nations - http://www.afn.ca
Indian Residential Schools Resolution Department - http://www.irsr-rqpi.gc.ca/english

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Canada finalizes $1.9B residential school deal (9/20)
Residential school students warned of scams (08/31)
Residential school abuse settlement accepted (08/21)
Canada House apologizes for Native student abuse (05/03)
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Law firm says $1.9B abuse settlement held up (2/2)
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