HALIFAX – The Nova Scotia government has reached a tentative $29-million settlement with former residents of the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children.
The former residents allege years of sexual, physical and psychological abuse by staff over a 50-year period up until the 1980s.
“We’re not done yet-there are still some legal steps in the process. But this is a significant step forward in the right direction,” he said in a news release. “Former residents have been through a lot and for their sake, it’s good that we’re closer to a resolution.”
McNeil announced in November that his government wanted to negotiate a settlement with the former residents after they launched a class-action lawsuit against the province.
The class-action lawsuit was certified by the Nova Scotia Supreme Court in December.
The settlement agreement will go before the courts for preliminary approval on June 6 and final approval on July 7. If no issues arise during the settlement process, everything will be finalized on Sept. 26, with the lump sum being paid to the residents’ legal counsel on Oct. 10.
In April 2013, the Home for Colored Children agreed to pay a $5-million settlement to about 140 plaintiffs after they filed a class-action lawsuit against the orphanage.
With files from The Canadian Press
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story stated the final approval for the settlement was scheduled for June 6. The correct date is July 7.
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