Premier
says apology is ‘1st step’ to continue the healing process
The province has formally apologized
to former residents who faced years of abuse at the Nova
Scotia Home for Colored Children, a former Halifax orphanage.
Political leaders join with former
residents of the Home for Colored Children on Friday, the day the Nova Scotia
government apologized to former residents for years of abuse at the Halifax
orphanage. (Jean Laroche/CBC)
Then residents of the orphanage
suffered physical, psychological and sexual abuse by staff over a 50-year
period, until the 1980s.
'I am very proud today that I am a former resident of the
Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children, that is something that I used to be
ashamed of.' - Tony Smith, former resident
Premier Stephen McNeil issued the
apology at the provincial legislature Friday afternoon.
"It is one of the great
tragedies in our province’s history that your cries for help were greeted with
silence for so long," said McNeil.
"Some of you faced horrific
abuse that no child should ever experience. You deserved a better standard of
care. For the trauma and neglect you endured, and their lingering effects on
you and your loved ones, we are truly sorry."
Genocidas raramente emergen completamente formados del vientre del mal
(de su madre). Por lo general, evolucionan de manera gradual con el
tiempo, ya que un crimen conduce a otro y a otro. - Bernier Farber
McNeil went on to thank former residents
for their "courage and perseverance in telling your stories. Your
strength, your resilience, and your desire for healing and reconciliation
should be an inspiration to all Nova Scotians."
Tony Smith, one of the former
residents, thanked those who worked for many years to shed light on the abuses.
"There’s so much time, effort
and energy by a lot of great people that got us to this point today. I’m very
proud today that I am a former resident of the Nova Scotia Home for Colored
Children, that is something that I used to be ashamed of. I’m very proud that
my peers and colleagues asked me to be a voice for them," he said.
The premier called the abuses at the
home "only one chapter in a history of systemic racism and inequality that
has scarred our province for generations."
McNeil called on Nova Scotians to
"do better."
"An apology is not a closing of
the books, but a recognition that we must cast an unflinching eye on the past
as we strive toward a better future. We are sorry for your suffering, we are
grateful for your courage, and we welcome your help in building a healthier
future for all of us."
Payments
to come
Premier Stephen McNeil shakes hands
with former home resident Harriet Johnson. (Shaina Luck/CBC)
A $29-million class-action
settlement with the Nova Scotia government was finalized in July.
The judge who approved the
settlement is still deciding how much lawyers representing the 300 former
residents should receive in legal fees.
Ray Wagner is lead counsel for the
former residents. He and his team are seeking $6.6 million in legal fees for
their over 16 years of work.
Mike Dull, speaking for Wagner's
team, said a decision from the judge on the legal fees is expected next week.
He said there’s no reason that payments to former residents should be held
up by the legal fees decision.
Friday marks the first day former
residents can start submitting claims to an Ottawa assessment company.
It's expected that the company will
assess claims and start to send out the first payments this year.
The payments will come in two parts:
- "Common experience" payments, based on factors like the length of time spent at the home, that are likely to start this year.
- For an "independent assessment process" that looks at more severe claims of abuse. That second step is expected to take place through next year.
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