Latest news with #AnnCecileHardy
Toronto Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- Toronto Sun
Federal Court approves Indian Hospitals class-action settlement
Published Jun 26, 2025 • 1 minute read A judge with gavel is pictured in this file photo. Photo by Getty Images OTTAWA — The Federal Court has approved a class-action settlement for people who suffered abuse at federally run 'Indian hospitals' following out-of-court negotiations with Ottawa and Indigenous survivors. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The federal government ran 33 such hospitals between 1936 and 1981. Former patients, some of whom spent years in the segregated facilities, filed a lawsuit against the government in 2018 alleging the hospitals were rife with abuse and unfair treatment, and settled out of court earlier this year. The class covers people who were admitted to an Indian Hospital between January 1936 and December 1981 and who suffered abuse during their time there. Claimants will be assessed under five 'levels,' with compensation ranging from $10,000 to $200,000. Ottawa is also earmarking $150 million for a healing fund and $235.5 million for research and education on Indian hospitals. Representative plaintiff Ann Cecile Hardy said earlier this year the experience revived painful memories of the time she spent in one of the hospitals for tuberculosis treatment. 'I was supposed to be there to heal, but instead I experienced fear, isolation and trauma that has stayed with me for decades … I was repeatedly sexually abused by staff members. I witnessed other patients being sexually abused,' Hardy said in March. 'I left the hospital physically, emotionally, psychologically battered. The abuse I suffered changed the entire course of my life.' Toronto Raptors CFL Canada Celebrity Sunshine Girls
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
Federal Court approves Indian Hospitals class-action settlement
OTTAWA – The Federal Court has approved a class-action settlement for people who suffered abuse at federally run 'Indian hospitals' following out-of-court negotiations with Ottawa and Indigenous survivors. The federal government ran 33 such hospitals between 1936 and 1981. Former patients, some of whom spent years in the segregated facilities, filed a lawsuit against the government in 2018 alleging the hospitals were rife with abuse and unfair treatment, and settled out of court earlier this year. The class covers people who were admitted to an Indian Hospital between January 1936 and December 1981 and who suffered abuse during their time there. Claimants will be assessed under five 'levels,' with compensation ranging from $10,000 to $200,000. Ottawa is also earmarking $150 million for a healing fund and $235.5 million for research and education on Indian hospitals. Representative plaintiff Ann Cecile Hardy said earlier this year the experience revived painful memories of the time she spent in one of the hospitals for tuberculosis treatment. 'I was supposed to be there to heal, but instead I experienced fear, isolation and trauma that has stayed with me for decades … I was repeatedly sexually abused by staff members. I witnessed other patients being sexually abused,' Hardy said in March. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. 'I left the hospital physically, emotionally, psychologically battered. The abuse I suffered changed the entire course of my life.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2025.
CBC
06-03-2025
- Health
- CBC
Survivors of abuse at Indian hospitals eligible for up to $200K in proposed settlement
WARNING: This story contains distressing details. Ottawa has reached a proposed settlement agreement with Indigenous survivors of the segregated health facilities known as Indian hospitals, to provide individual compensation ranging from $10,000 to $200,000. Indian hospitals were substandard facilities operated by the federal government starting in the 1930s to separate Indigenous people from the rest of the Canadian population to stop the spread of tuberculosis. Tens of thousands of First Nations, Inuit and Métis patients, including children, were admitted to the overcrowded, poorly staffed and unsanitary institutions. Survivors allege they faced physical and sexual abuse from hospital staff, along with forcible confinement to beds without a medical reason. Some say they were also the subject of medical experiments. The deal announced Thursday aims to resolve a $1.1-billion class-action lawsuit on behalf of former patients from the decades-long segregated health-care system rife with widespread mistreatment and abuse by providing an uncapped amount of compensation. The agreement covers 33 federally run Indian hospitals that operated from January 1936 until December 1981, excluding sanatoriums. 5 years of negotiations Under the proposal, individual compensation for survivors would vary depending on the level of verbal, physical and/or sexual abuse suffered. Some of the allegations from patients include: being beaten with rods and sticks, isolated in hospital rooms for prolonged periods of time, deprived of food and water and even forced to eat their own vomit. Compensation for immediate family members would also be made available. A foundation would be created to administer an additional $150-million healing fund for survivors to access money for the revitalization of their Indigenous languages, education and wellness. The foundation would also manage a separate $235.5-million research and commemoration fund to preserve the history of the institutions and to help local burial sites associated with them. WATCH | An in-depth look into Indian hospital abuse allegations: Lawsuit: Canadian government was negligent in 'Indian hospitals' 7 years ago Duration 2:16 The agreement comes after five years of negotiations between the federal government and lawyers for the lawsuit, Ann Cecile Hardy v. Attorney General of Canada, which was filed in 2018 and certified in 2020. An agreement-in-principle was reached in December 2024. The deal also covers three similar proposed class actions that were filed afterwards and dealt with collectively under Hardy, including: Deborah Azak and Wayne Louie (Supreme Court of British Columbia), Jean John Baptiste Pambrun (Court of King's Bench Saskatchewan) and Blanche Bull (Court of King's Bench Alberta). In addition to compensation, survivors could collectively access $150 million from Indigenous Services Canada for mental health and legal support through the claims process. The money would also cover the administrative cost of the settlement agreement by independent third parties. The Federal Court will decide whether to approve the proposed settlement agreement during hearings scheduled for June 10 and 11. Survivors are encouraged to provide feedback in advance.
