The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
MP Bev Desjarlais in a statement in the House of Commons called on the government to repay its debts: to victims of Residential Schools and the Hepatitis C scandal. "The finance minister is bragging about a surplus gained from the hardship and struggle of Canadians. He brags about being out $7 billion on the government's budget. Now he is to pay down more of the debt at the expense of ordinary Canadians." Although the government has promised billions in compensation to Residential School and Hepatitis C victims, little money has gone out. There was $1.7 billion allocated to residential school claimants. Of some 200 victims going before the adjudicator, only three have been given a hearing, this after filling out a 37 page application. The Health Minister raised the hopes of Hepatitis C victims by suggesting victims previously excluded would get compensation. The compensation was to come from moneys not paid out to other victims. Desjarlais concluded, "The Liberal government continues to spend more and more money paying lawyers to prevent victims from gaining restitution. This is reprehensible. The government should follow through on its promises compensation before there are no claims left."
