Dumbass of the Week - Stephen Harper: Knowledge Driven Revolution

[KDR: The Dumbass of the Week is really for anyone who actually believes this. Politics are truly in a sad state when excuses like these are used for broken campaign promises.]

It's "extremely unlikely" Ottawa will keep a Conservative campaign promise to compensate students at a northern Saskatchewan residential school, the federal Indian Affairs minister says.

Thousands of children, most of them Métis, boarded at the school in Île-à-la-Crosse between 1884 and 1976, and some of the survivors allege they were abused.

During the campaign a year ago, Conservative leader Stephen Harper said in a radio commercial that if he were prime minister, former students from the school would be compensated.

"We'll provide full compensation for residential school survivors, including those attending the Île-à-la-Crosse school," Harper said in the advertisement.

However, a $4-billion residential school deal recently approved by courts across Canada doesn't cover students who went to the school.

In a CBC/Radio-Canada interview Wednesday, Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice said it's "extremely unlikely" that decision will change.

Prentice now says his party made a mistake and didn't have all the facts when it made the original commitment. That means the court-approved settlement deal that would pay some 80,000 former residential school students an average of about $25,000 each won't apply.

"The school doesn't qualify," Prentice said. "The ad, to the extent that it had a different assumption, was in error and that's unfortunate."

According to Prentice, Île-à-la-Crosse school was a Saskatchewan school run by the Catholic church without federal involvement.

Over the course of the 20th century, the Saskatchewan government was increasingly involved in the school, Prentice said.

Ottawa's stance on the school upsets some of the former students, such as Don Favel, who attended in the 1960s.

Favel said he was abused at the school and he has a hard time buying the minister's explanation.

'He has to watch what he says'

"They touted it long enough that they should have had the facts," Favel said. "When you're in that position, especially coming from a leader like Harper, I think he has to watch what he says."

Regina lawyer Tony Merchant, who has handled thousands of residential school lawsuits, is currently trying to have a class action lawsuit certified on the Île-à-la-Crosse matter.

The proposed suit holds Ottawa and Saskatchewan responsible for the loss of language and culture, as well as physical and sexual abuse.

About 150 former students have signed on so far.

Île-à-la-Crosse is 520 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.

Read Today's Knowledge Driven News
HOME Canadians Should Pay NOT to be Poisoned: NDP V for Vendetta - R for Reality Canadian Bird Flu Pandemic Looming ? Shill of the Week: Stephan Harper Aspartame: The Sweetest Killer Chicken Little Terrorist of the Week: Creating Fake Terrorists Shill of the Week: Paul Martin The Number 1 Reason YOU became a Slave	Dumbass of the Week: Stephen Harper Harper promised compensation 'in error,' minister says CBC News January 24, 2007 [KDR: The Dumbass of the Week is really for anyone who actually believes this. Politics are truly in a sad state when excuses like these are used for broken campaign promises.] It's "extremely unlikely" Ottawa will keep a Conservative campaign promise to compensate students at a northern Saskatchewan residential school, the federal Indian Affairs minister says. Thousands of children, most of them Métis, boarded at the school in Île-à-la-Crosse between 1884 and 1976, and some of the survivors allege they were abused. During the campaign a year ago, Conservative leader Stephen Harper said in a radio commercial that if he were prime minister, former students from the school would be compensated. "We'll provide full compensation for residential school survivors, including those attending the Île-à-la-Crosse school," Harper said in the advertisement. However, a $4-billion residential school deal recently approved by courts across Canada doesn't cover students who went to the school. In a CBC/Radio-Canada interview Wednesday, Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice said it's "extremely unlikely" that decision will change. Prentice now says his party made a mistake and didn't have all the facts when it made the original commitment. That means the court-approved settlement deal that would pay some 80,000 former residential school students an average of about $25,000 each won't apply. "The school doesn't qualify," Prentice said. "The ad, to the extent that it had a different assumption, was in error and that's unfortunate." According to Prentice, Île-à-la-Crosse school was a Saskatchewan school run by the Catholic church without federal involvement. Over the course of the 20th century, the Saskatchewan government was increasingly involved in the school, Prentice said. Ottawa's stance on the school upsets some of the former students, such as Don Favel, who attended in the 1960s. Favel said he was abused at the school and he has a hard time buying the minister's explanation. 'He has to watch what he says' "They touted it long enough that they should have had the facts," Favel said. "When you're in that position, especially coming from a leader like Harper, I think he has to watch what he says." Regina lawyer Tony Merchant, who has handled thousands of residential school lawsuits, is currently trying to have a class action lawsuit certified on the Île-à-la-Crosse matter. The proposed suit holds Ottawa and Saskatchewan responsible for the loss of language and culture, as well as physical and sexual abuse. About 150 former students have signed on so far. Île-à-la-Crosse is 520 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon. Read the full article here Broken Link? If the link to the original article is broken or has been altered you can view the article by clicking here. About KDR \| \| Home \| \| Weekly Features Archive	Weekly Features Archive
		What Is Wrong With Canada ? Recent 9-11 News Suppressed by the Media Aspartame: The Sweetest Killer The Number 1 Reason YOU became a Slave Knowledge Driven Look at Your Favourite Canadian Political Parties
		June July August 2006 30 31 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 01 02 Weekly Features 2006 2005 Read Today's Knowledge Driven News
		Counter
Copyright © 2005-6 KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com

Dumbass of the Week: Stephen Harper

Harper promised compensation 'in error,' minister says