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Section I: Overview
Minister’s Message
On behalf of Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada (IRSRC), I am pleased to present to Parliament and the people of Canada the 2007–2008 Departmental Performance Report for Indian Residential Schools
Resolution Canada.
The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) is the largest class action settlement in Canadian history. The Government announced on May 10, 2006 that the IRSSA was approved by all parties involved: the Government of Canada, legal counsel for former students, Churches, the Assembly of First Nations, and Inuit Representatives. Implementation of the IRSSA began on September 19, 2007, and since then a considerable amount of work has been completed.
With the successful implementation of the Settlement Agreement, survivors of Indian Residential Schools, their families and communities now have access to various individual and collective measures. Common Experience Payments have been paid to eligible former students of Indian Residential Schools and continue to be paid, and an Independent Assessment Process for claims of sexual or serious physical abuse has been established. Measures have been put into place to support healing such as the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program and an endowment to the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, and commemorative activities will also take place in the coming months. All of these activities mark significant milestones in our journey toward healing and reconciliation.
On June 1, 2008, another significant milestone occurred: the creation of the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This was closely followed on June 11, 2008 by a historic event. On behalf of the Government of Canada and all Canadians, Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered a formal apology in the House of Commons to former students of Indian Residential Schools and sought forgiveness for the students' suffering and for the damaging impact the schools had on Aboriginal culture, heritage and language.
Also in June 2008, IRSRC was integrated into Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. The newly established Resolution and Individual Affairs Sector will continue with the important work of implementing the Settlement Agreement and focusing federal efforts toward managing and resolving abuse claims in a fair, non-adversarial manner. This Departmental Performance Report describes the IRSRC's performance for fiscal year 2007-2008 and its commitment to resolving the legacy of Indian Residential Schools.
The Honourable Chuck Strahl, P.C., M.P.
Management Representation Statement
I submit for tabling in Parliament, the 2007–08 Departmental Performance Report for Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada.
This document has been prepared based on the reporting principles contained in the Guide for the Preparation of Part III of the 2007–08 Estimates: Reports on Plans and Priorities and Departmental Performance Reports:
- It adheres to the specific reporting requirements outlined in the Treasury Board Secretariat guidance;
- It is based on the department’s approved Strategic Outcome(s) and Program Activity Architecture that were approved by the Treasury Board;
- It presents consistent, comprehensive, balanced and reliable information;
- It provides a basis of accountability for the results achieved with the resources and authorities entrusted to it; and
- It reports finances based on approved numbers from the Estimates and the Public Accounts of Canada.
Summary Information
Department’s Reason for Existence
Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada is dedicated to addressing and resolving issues arising from the legacy of Indian Residential Schools. Within its mandate, the Department has undertaken to:
- Work with former students of Indian Residential Schools, their families and communities, other federal government departments, provincial and territorial governments, Aboriginal peoples and organizations, Churches involved in running Indian Residential Schools, and other interested groups on the implementation of the Settlement Agreement and in support of initiatives that promote healing and reconciliation; and,
- Resolve claims in a timely fashion, through litigation and other methods of dispute resolution that are compassionate for claimants.
Financial Resources ($ millions)
| 2007–08 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Planned Spending | Total Authorities | Actual Spending |
| $592.6 | $623.1 | $519.9 |
Human Resources (Full-time equivalents)
| 2007-08 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Planned | Actual | Difference |
| 604 | 456 | 148 |
Departmental Priorities
| Name | Type | Performance Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Supporting court approval and ensuring successful implementation of the Settlement Agreement. | Ongoing | Successfully met |
| 2. Resolving claims efficiently and compassionately through the National Resolution Framework. | Ongoing | Successfully met |
| 3. Maintaining effective and collaborative partnerships with Aboriginal peoples and their communities. | Ongoing | Successfully met |
Program Activities by Strategic Outcome
| Expected Results | Performance Status | 2007-2008 | Contributes to the following priority | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Planned Spending | Actual Spending | ||||
| Strategic Outcome: To advance reconciliation among former students of Indian Residential Schools and the Government of Canada | |||||
| Program Activity: Resolution of claims | 340 Litigation settlements, 1,500 Alternative Dispute Resolution decisions, and 500 Independent Assessment Process, claim process based on a Settlement Agreement Implementation Date of November 01, 2007. | Successfully met | $ 592.6M | $519.9M | Priority Numbers 1, 2 and 3 |
