HALIFAX – Nova Scotia’s premier says the province is taking allegations of abuse at two former schools for the deaf very seriously.
On Wednesday, former students announced a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging sexual, physical and mental abuse against children who attended two residential schools.
The schools, which have since closed, were the School for the Deaf in Halifax and the Interprovincial School for the Education of the Deaf in Amherst.
The claim was launched by Wagners Law Firm and alleges the province failed to properly investigate or stop the alleged abuse.
Premier Stephen McNeil says a fact-finding mission must now start to substantiate any of the claims and that the province owes it to residents to uncover the truth.
“I would say to anyone that [has] been the victim of any type of abuse that they should seek out support and come forward to help build an understanding of what happened.” McNeil said Thursday.
“As the Crown, we would take those allegations very seriously and would be looked into much like they were looked into at the Home for Coloured Children.”
READ MORE: NS Home for Coloured Children apologizes to former residents
Lawyer Ray Wagner says the effects have been long-lasting for the former students.
“People have suffered from alcohol and drug abuse. Some people have committed suicide,” Wagner said on Wednesday.
“There is a horrific amount of suffering that has gone by a whole host of people in different ways.”
Wagner says 60 former students have signed up for the proposed class-action lawsuit so far, and more people are expected to join.
The allegations have not been proven in court.
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