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

Ottawa, March 23, 2000 -- Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today tabled in the House of Commons a report by the Law Commission of Canada on Institutional Child Abuse. This is the Commission's first report to the Minister since its creation in 1997.

The report responds to a request by the Minister of Justice for the Commission to provide independent advice on the difficult issue of how to respond responsibly and fairly to victims of abuse that occurred in government-run or government-funded and sponsored institutions. Experience to date has shown that lengthy civil and criminal trials, which by their nature involve an adversarial approach, are less than ideal in resolving many of the sensitive issues arising from this issue. The Commission was asked to explore alternative processes that could address wrongdoing while providing appropriate remedies and promoting reconciliation, fairness and healing.

"I want to thank the Law Commission of Canada for its important work on institutional child abuse. The Commission's report and recommendations are important in assisting governments at all levels as well as other public and social institutions to understand the complex issues involved, as well as to find effective and sensitive solutions," Minister McLellan said. "The Commission's work in documenting and acknowledging the experiences of survivors and their families is a particularly important contribution."

In keeping with its mandate, the Commission report provides an assessment of and recommendations on a number of possible approaches to better meet the needs of survivors of institutional abuse. These include changes to the criminal justice process, compensation, community initiatives, alternative dispute mechanisms and redress programs. Equally important, the Commission makes a number of recommendations aimed at preventing future abuse of children in out-of-home care.

The Government of Canada will continue to address many of the issues raised in the Report and its recommendations, including working with Aboriginal leaders, healers, survivors of residential school abuse and churches to develop safe, healing processes for determining and redressing the impact of abuse suffered by Aboriginal children in many residential schools. These efforts, undertaken by a number of federal departments including the Department of Justice, the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs and Health Canada, are consistent with the themes and principles that underpin the report's recommendations and suggest that the government is moving in the right direction.

The Government is expected to respond to the Commission's report before the end of the year.

- 30 -

Ref:

Justice Canada:

Relationship with the Law Commission of Canada:

Ruth Naylor, Priorities and Planning Division: (613) 954-2896

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

Department of Indian and Northern Affairs:

Nicole Dakin, Media Relations Officer: (819) 997-8404

Health Canada:

Jeffrey Pender, Media Relations Officer: (613) 957-2988.

View the Law Commission of Canada's Report on Institutional Child Abuse at: http://www.lcc.gc.ca/default-en.asp