Department of Justice

SAFEGUARDING THE FUTURE AND HEALING THE PAST:

JUSTICE MINISTER TABLES RESPONSE TO LAW COMMISSION OF CANADA REPORT ON INSTITUTIONAL CHILD ABUSE

Ottawa, June 8, 2001 --- Today in the House of Commons, the Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada tabled the government's response to the Law Commission of Canada's report on institutional child abuse. The response, Safeguarding the Future and Healing the Past, links the Commission's recommendations to policies and programs that address the serious issue of child abuse that occurred in Canadian institutions in the past, and highlights legislative reforms and ongoing measures to protect children and ensure that their futures are healthy and safe.

"The safety and well being of children is a top priority. It is encouraging that the values and concerns that emerge in the Commission's study are very much in line with those of the government," said Minister McLellan. "It is also evident that Canada's programs, policies and legislation to protect children and victims are responding to the real problems, and we are making progress."

Minister McLellan requested that the Law Commission of Canada provide independent advice on the difficult issue of how to respond fairly to victims of abuse that occurred in government-run or government-funded institutions. The government's response builds on three complex themes reflected in the Commission's report: protecting children, responding to the needs of victims and addressing the legacy of physical and sexual abuse in Indian residential schools.

Sharing the key concerns of the Law Commission, the Government of Canada's response highlights major achievements and ongoing work with provinces and territories and in partnerships with communities, families and voluntary organizations that work with children, to maintain and improve the way children are protected. As well, the response gives an overview of the government's priority to improve protections for victims of crime and to ensure that they are treated with dignity, courtesy and respect within the criminal justice system.

The Law Commission's report will help inform the federal government's continuing efforts to work with survivors of abuse and with the churches to find responsible, fair and sensitive ways to address the legacy of physical and sexual abuse that occurred in Indian residential schools. The government's response underscores redressing the wrongs that occurred in the schools as a crucial first step to healing and reconciliation for both individuals and their communities --- a process that is essential to break the cycle of abuse and to build a strong and healthy foundation for the future. Several ongoing community-based programs that focus on healing individuals and communities and preventing abuse have been initiated by a number of federal departments including the Department of Justice, the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Health Canada, and are consistent with the recommendations of the Law Commission's report.

"I would like to thank the Law Commission of Canada for its insightful report on the important issue of child abuse in Canadian institutions," said Minister McLellan. "The report illustrates the Law Commission's role as an independent advisor to the Government of Canada on legal issues. Its analysis is an important resource to all levels of government as well as other public and social institutions to help understand the complex issues involved, and to find effective and sensitive solutions in ongoing efforts to address child abuse."

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Ref:

Farah Mohamed
Minister's Office
(613) 992-4621

Joan Howe
Communications Branch
(613) 957-4205

Backgrounder: Highlights of the Government Response

The Government's Response is available online at /en/dept/pub/dig/index.htm or by calling the Justice Canada general inquiries (613) 957-4222.

Law Commission of Canada's report on Institutional Child Abuse: http://www.lcc.gc.ca/