Settlement fund still on target

The Anglican Church of Canada’s Indian residential schools settlement fund, with a goal of $25 million, remains on target, having collected $16.8 million as of the third quarter of 2005, according to General Synod’s financial office in Toronto. The church’s 30 dioceses and General Synod, the national office, began in 2003 to contribute to the fund. It pays damages to claimants who are able to prove they suffered sexual or physical abuse at Anglican-run schools that were part of a nationwide system of boarding schools for native children. As of Oct. 17, 2005, a total of $6.6 million had been paid to claimants.In March, 2003, the church signed an agreement with the federal government that limited the church’s liability to $25 million in schools lawsuits. The fund is paying 30 per cent of settlements, with the government paying 70 per cent. General Synod has paid $3 million. Dioceses agreed to contribute funds over five years in proportion to their regular annual gift to General Synod.