Settlement fund grows.

Staff

The Anglican Church of Canada has collected about $18.7 million from its national office and 30 dioceses to cover potential damages sought by former students of the now-defunct Indian residential schools. As of Sept. 30, 2006, $10.5 million had been paid out from the residential schools settlement fund to claimants who proved they had been physically or sexually abused in the nationwide school system.

Under an agreement with the federal government reached in 2003, the church's liability concerning the schools was capped at $25 million. Earlier this year, the accord was revised to reflect a more-favourable agreement reached in 2005 between Ottawa and the Roman Catholic church; Anglican officials have said their church's liability would likely be reduced to less than $16 million. However, the earlier agreement remains in place until the revision is approved by the federal cabinet and seven Canadian courts. It is likely to become effective in mid-2007.

The Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian and United churches each staffed schools, which were supervised by the federal government. The Anglican church ran 26 of the 80 schools. Hundreds of former students have sued churches and the federal government, alleging they suffered abuse there.