The Merchant Law Group believes an apology for the Sixties Scoop will help in its fight for compensation for victims of the so called “Sixties Scoop,” but still expects a court fight that will last years.
The scoop involved the adoption of Aboriginal children into non-Aboriginal homes during the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. It was a program that was supported by governments of the day.
A 1.3 billion dollar class action suit was heard in an Ontario court this week, but was adjourned until December. The Merchant Law Group has a similar action in the works, but Tony Merchant says his client base is much broader.
“The action in Ontario is helpful, but it is very restrictive, it only deals with First Nations people on certain reserves,” he said. “The action that Merchant Law is pursuing has to do with everyone, non-status Indians, status Indians, Metis, everyone affected by the Sixties Scoop.”
Merchant also says an apology from the Saskatchewan government, which is expected within the next couple of months, will help his case. He says governments are sometimes reluctant to do this because of the legal implications.
“I believe Indigenous people will be grateful to see that apology,” he said. “There have been apologies from some other public figures, and all of that is good, and it helps in our winning the case for people.”
The class action suit is still open and is proceeding in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta. Thousands of clients are expected to sign on.
Merchant’s law firm also represented thousands of residential school survivors in a class action suit against the federal government, which resulted in a four billion dollar out of court settlement.