The Backbench

Bail Reform And National Reconciliation

02.07.2023 - By CANADALANDPlay

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A proposed settlement of a class-action lawsuit has been reached between the federal government and 325 First Nations, which applies to Indigenous children who attended residential schools during the day—students who were left out of the 2006 residential schools settlement. This episode gets into the legal elements of this lawsuit, how we got here, and what impacts it might have going forward. 

And, all 13 provinces and territories are calling for “immediate action” to strengthen Canada’s bail system in the wake of the death of an Ontario Provincial Police officer in late December. What does the bail system look like in Canada? How is this specific moment being politicized?  And, what would the consequences of bail reform be?

Host:  Mattea Roach Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Associate Producer), Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor) Guests: Riley Yesno, Karen Restoule, Patricia Barkaskas

Background reading:

Canada’s $2.8 billion settlement with Indigenous Day Scholars is a long-time coming$2.8-billion settlement reached in class action lawsuit over residential schoolsHow does Canada's bail system actually work? And where does it fall short?Premiers demand bail reform in letter to Trudeau after killing of OPP officer

Sponsors: Douglas, Athletic Greens

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