NO CLAWBACK ON RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL STUDENTS' COMPENSATION

Effective immediately, federal compensation payments to former residential school students will not affect current income support benefits, the provincial government announced today. Income support programs included are the Saskatchewan Assistance Program (SAP) and the Transitional Employment Allowance (TEA).

"The Saskatchewan government recognizes this is a unique situation," Community Resources Minister Buckley Belanger said. "This is about addressing a historical wrong, and these people have waited a long time for compensation. These settlements will not affect SAP or TEA benefits."

The federal government has been working with various partners to develop a plan to compensate former Indian Residential School students and reached an agreement in principle last November.

Several other provinces, as well as Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, have legislation exempting the full amount of the settlements, or are considering such legislation. There is also precedent in the Saskatchewan Assistance Program to exempt compensation payments resulting from class actions.

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For More Information, Contact:

Debbie Clark Community Resources Regina Phone: (306) 787-8689