On Sept. 19, the Residential Schools Settlement Agreement comes into effect. The five-month opt-out period ended on Aug. 20, and former residential school students can apply for the Common Experience Payment or the Independent Assessment Process using forms that will soon be on the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada website.
Valérie Haché, media relations representative for Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada, said it will take at least a month for the government to process claims. The first cheques will be issued in November.
The Anglican Church of Canada, which ran over 30 residential schools, participated in negotiating this settlement agreement, approved May 2006. The church is currently working alongside former residential schools students in programs like the Anglican Healing Fund.
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