CANADA
The StarPhoenix
Saskatoon lawyer Dan Shapiro is well-intentioned in applying to a court to have the private records and testimony of nearly 38,000 residential school abuse survivors destroyed, but the drastic measure should not go ahead.
Not only would it destroy unique information that provides great insight into the horrific history of Canada’s residential schools, but it would also be a disservice to the long-term interests of the descendants of the survivors who came forward with heart-wrenching stories of physical, emotional and sexual abuse that led to generations of family dysfunction and other problems that today marginalize too many First Nations people.
As chief adjudicator for the Independent Assessment Process (IAP) that assesses complaints of abuse and decides on compensation for survivors, Mr. Shapiro notes that the claims process was meant to be confidential and safe.
While it’s true that the documents include medical records and income tax information as well as graphic personal stories, his assessment is wrong that destroying all documentation is the only way to ensure the privacy of individuals and confidentiality of the files.
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