Residential School Payments Safe From Clawbacks

Residential School Payments Safe From Clawbacks

Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at 14:32

The provincial government says federal compensation payments to former residential school students will not be clawed back from social assistance cheques.

Community Resources Minister Buckley Belanger says the Saskatchewan government recognizes this is a unique situation.

Belanger says this is about addressing a historical wrong, and adds residential school survivors have waited a long time for compensation.

He also maintains clawbacks on welfare cheques were not even considered by the provincial government.

Income support programs included in today’s announcement are the Saskatchewan Assistance Program and the Transitional Employment Allowance.

Belanger notes several other provinces, as well as Indian Affairs, have legislation exempting the full amount of the settlements — or are considering such legislation.

He also says there is precedent in the Saskatchewan Assistance Program to exempt compensation payments resulting from class actions.