Opposition joins call for Sask. to compensate victims of Sixties Scoop

The Opposition is joining the call for Saskatchewan to compensate victimsof the Sixties Scoop.

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations asked Wednesday for $200 millionto go hand-in-hand with anygovernment apology to Sixties Scoop survivors. Premier Brad Wall promised an apologyyears ago, but he has always said that will not include money.

NDPcritic for First Nations andMtisRelationsBuckleyBelangersays if the government was sincere,it would have worked harder to find a solution.

"If you're serious about resolving some of these matters, you would have continual dialogue, you would have a respectful relationship and you'd also talk about the issues of compensation. Because if those are not part and parcel of the discussions, then what's the use of having an apology?" he said.

'We need substance': FSIN

FSINChief Bobby Cameronsaid survivors are adamant there should be financialcompensation from the province and suggests that Saskatchewan payout $400 million, or at least $200 million.

"It's fine to have an apology, but we need substance," Camerontold The Canadian Press Thursday.

"It's that healing journey and our survivors are saying, 'We likethe apology, sure, but we need some substance,' and that's thesubstance, the compensation package."

The federal government has already pledged to pay up to $800million to Indigenous survivors across Canada who were removed fromtheir homes and placed with non-Indigenous familiesa practicethat stripped children of their language, culture and traditions.

Apology no less sincere without cash: Wall

Premier Wall said he is ready to make an apology at any timeor place chosen by the federation, but he doesn't agree with theidea of provincial compensation. An apology doesn't have to includemoney to be meaningful, he said.

"I don't think an apology is any less sincere just becausethere's not cash that comes along with it," Wall said. "I hope that apologies can be taken at face value and that's why I indicateda couple of years ago that I thought it was warranted. I stillbelieve it today."

Wall noted Manitoba did not offer compensation when it became thefirst, and it's believed the only province so far, to apologize tovictims in 2015. Shortly after Manitoba's apology, Wall said onewould be forthcoming from Saskatchewan.

He has said he hoped the apology could be made before he retiresin January, but he wasn't optimistic about that on Thursday.

"No, I'm not confident it's going to happen based on my twoyears of experience since I made these announcements."

Cameron said he will consult with survivors to see if they'llaccept an apology while compensation talks are ongoing.

"They're the ones who suffered those traumatizing years and theystill are," said Cameron.