OTTAWA, ONTARIO (December 24, 2012) – Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada issued the following update today regarding the disclosure of documents to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC):
"The Government of Canada continues to diligently implement the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement and meet all of its obligations.
As of December 13, 2012, federal departments have, in fact, disclosed over one million documents to the TRC. This represents a significant effort by Canada and current estimates suggest this represents close to half of all relevant documents.
Furthermore, Canada has gone beyond the obligations set out in the Agreement by absorbing all costs related to the scanning and coding of its documents for disclosure. Departments have also been working closely with the TRC to ensure they have access to all the documents they need to complete their report.
The TRC is also seeking some documents which the Government of Canada believes are outside of the TRC's mandate as set out in the Agreement. The TRC is asking for the personal information submitted confidentially by former students in their applications for compensation while the Settlement Agreement is being implemented, for confidences of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, and for material subject to solicitor-client privilege.
Work will continue to fulfill the obligations set out under the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement with the aim of disclosing all remaining documents relevant to the TRC's mandate by July 30, 2013, a year prior to the end of its mandate, and to ensure the National Research Centre is successfully launched when the TRC ends its work.
The Government of Canada remains committed to achieving a fair and lasting resolution to the legacy of Indian Residential Schools, which lies at the heart of reconciliation and the renewal of the relationship between Aboriginal people and all Canadians."
