Canada agreed to \u0022forever discharge\u0022 Catholic entities from their promise to raise $25 million for residential school survivors.
The Canadian Press obtained a signed copy of the 2015 agreement through federal Access-to-Information laws, marking what appears to be the first time the document has been widely publicized.
The actions of the Catholic groups involved — and by extension, the Catholic Church as an institution — as well as Ottawa, have been under renewed scrutiny since the uncovering of what are believed to be hundreds of unmarked graves at former residential school sites, which First Nations began announcing last year.
At issue was whether lawyers for both sides had struck a deal freeing the church groups from all their financial commitments — including the $25 million for survivors — in exchange for a payment of $1.2 million, or only had an agreement covering a more narrow part of their financial responsibilities.
“Canada does hereby remise, release and forever discharge the Catholic entities ⦠its directors, officers, shareholders, agents, lawyers, and employees ⦠of and from all manners of actions, causes of action, suits, debts, dues, accounts, bonds whatsoever against the releasees,” it reads. “The minister committed to understanding the circumstances and events that led the appeal to be dropped by the government of the day,” Miller’s office said in a statement Friday.Article contentA spokesperson also deferred questions to the Department of Justice about the legal fees paid by Canada.
While it said the court ruling could free Catholic entities from the “$21.5 million shortfall” of their fundraising campaign for survivors, “the likelihood of compelling the Catholic entities to meet their remaining fundraising obligations is very low.”
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