CJC News Release: CJC welcomes government recognition of residential school abuse victims

November 24, 2005
For immediate release

CJC welcomes government recognition of residential school abuse victims

OTTAWA - Canadian Jewish Congress welcomed the Canadian government’s announcement of plans to compensate Aboriginal Canadians who were abused while attending government-run residential schools, which includes funds for a truth-and-reconciliation commission.

"We are pleased that Canada has finally understood its responsibility for a shameful part of our country’s history, and is seeking to rectify its actions," said Canadian Jewish Congress National President Ed Morgan.

"Canada has made a crucial and substantive step toward recognizing our national culpability for this grievous historic wrong," added CJC Pacific Region Chair Mark Weintraub.

"As this process moves forward, survivors' and Aboriginal voices must be heard in the development and implementation of the programs being created on their behalf. The Jewish community will certainly lend its unqualified support to authentic reconciliation," he noted.

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For more information, contact:

Wendy Lampert
National Director of Communications

Canadian Jewish Congress

416-631-5844 (office)
416-845-4674 (cell)

wlampert@on.cjc.ca

www.cjc.ca