CBC News: Cost of administering residential school program 'staggering'

CBC News: Cost of administering residential school program 'staggering'

The cost of a program that was supposed to fast track claims of residential school abuse is skyrocketing. The cost of administering the program has reached $34 million, while less than $1 million has been paid out.

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Finance Minister Ralph Goodale claimed 45 per cent of the cost would go to administration and the rest would go to people making claims.
But that's not how it's working out.
Jim Prentice, an Alberta Conservative MP, says he asked the government for details and what he found out was "staggering."
"Ninety-seven per cent of the money is making its way through, to the process. And only three per cent of the money is making its way through to the victims. And that's completely unacceptable."
Ted Hughes, the head adjudicator, disagrees. "For the people that want to use this, it's entirely successful," he said.
A spokesperson for the program says the costs are justified because Ottawa has an obligation to verify claims so that it can protect taxpayers. The government also stresses that the program is new and that it will soon be paying out millions of dollars in compensation.