Approve $50M settlement for N.L. residential school victims, lawyers urge

Tuesday wasa proud day,coloured by decadesof powerful emotions, for Newfoundland and Labrador residential school survivors, as they inched closer to a long-sought goal.

The day markedthe firstof a two-day hearing at the Supreme Court in St. John's, with lawyers asking Justice Robert Stackto approve a $50-million dollar settlement for more than 800 survivors of residential schools in the province.

That settlement was reachedin May, but requires Stack'sapprovalbefore any money can be paid out.

• N.L. residential school survivors' lawyers reach $50M settlement with Ottawa
• Residential school survivor 'elated' by settlement talks

TobyObedofHopedalebarely contained hissobs as class action lawyer KirkBaertpraised survivors who told their stories in court.

Last fall,Obedtestified that he was physically and psychologically abused as a child at a residential school in Labrador.

He'sone of the people who started the class action almost a decade agoto acknowledge and compensate Newfoundland and Labrador residential school survivors.

In court Tuesdayafternoon, he stage whispered "no, sir," when Justice Robert Stack asked if anyoneobjectedto the settlement.

Baert called on Stack to approve the settlement,that lawyers reached after the class action trial was halted last winter.

"If this matter had proceeded it would be September 2021 before it would be finished. Many hundreds of people would have died by the time it was concluded. Many have already died. It's important to settle this matter now and get compensation out as soon as possible," Baertsaid.

A new adventure

Cindy Dwyer is one of the estimated 800 residential school survivors who stand tobenefit from the settlement, if it's approved.

She's been living in Mount Pearl for the past few years but is travelling to Labrador Wednesday to start a new job there. She believes the lawsuithelped make herreturn to Labrador possible.

"It maybe gave me a bit more confidence in myself everything I've been doing over the last year fighting for this,getting up and speaking for myself. Maybe it's built my confidence up. It's a new adventure, of course," she said.

Lawyers hope to start getting chequesto class action lawsuitmembers this year.

Members won't all receive the same amount: thosewho boarded at a residential school for less than fiveyears will receive $15,000 compensation, while thosewho spentmore than five years at schoolwill receive $20,000.

All plaintiffs can also apply for more compensation if they believe they suffered more abuse than their peers.

High priority for federal government

A federal lawyer representing the Attorney General of Canadasaid reconciliation with Canada's Indigenous people is a high priority for the Liberalgovernment since it came to power, and that'swhy a settlement was reached.

But it's not a done deal yet.

Lawyers are due back in court Wednesday morning to explain how they will be paid by the settlement.

They say they've literally devoted thousands of hours to this case and are asking for athird of the $50-million settlement to cover their fees.