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Efforts to reach claimants who suffered abuse at Indian Residential Schools and who cannot be located are being stepped up as the Independent Assessment Process (IAP) is winding down.

Edmonton, March 26, 2013 – The Indian Residential Schools Adjudication Secretariat has released a new video to help claimants prepare for their hearing in the Independent Assessment Process (IAP).
"Telling Your Story" provides claimants in the Independent Assessment Process with information about what to expect at their IAP hearing," said Dan Shapiro, Chief Adjudicator of the IAP. The Independent Assessment Process provides compensation to former students for abuse they suffered at Indian Residential Schools. The IAP was established in 2007 under the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (Settlement Agreement), the largest class action suit in Canadian history. The IAP is a claimant-centred process that supports healing and reconciliation.

Mr. Speaker, before I begin officially, let me just take a moment to acknowledge the role of certain colleagues here in the House of Commons in today's events. Although the responsibility for the apology is ultimately mine alone, there are several of my colleagues who do deserve the credit.
First of all, for their hard work and professionalism, I want to thank both the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and his predecessor, now the Minister of Industry. Both of these gentlemen have been strong and passionate advocates not just of today's action, but also of the historic Indian residential schools settlement that our government has signed.