Offers Made to Youth Detention Employees

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION--Offers Made to Youth Detention Employees

Past and present employees of youth detention centers who faced allegations of abuse and have been cleared by the RCMP and Internal Investigation Unit (IIU) will get settlement offers from the Nova Scotia government. In making the offer the province acknowledges the hardship suffered as a result of the alternate dispute resolution (ADR) program put in place in 1996.

"Our employees have been living under a cloud of suspicion for more than seven years," said Ernest Fage, Minister responsible for the Public Service Commission. "It's time that burden was lifted." He noted that each individual will receive a personal letter of apology, acknowledging the harm caused by the process. The letter will be signed by the Minister of Justice and the Minister of the Public Service Commission.

Past and present employees have been investigated by either the RCMP or the province's Internal Investigation Unit. The investigation process began in 1995. Those who are no longer under RCMP investigation and were cleared by the unit or who did not commit a disciplinary offence are eligible for the settlement offer.

"As the Kaufman report said, the ADR program hurt past and present employees who were falsely accused of abuse," said Justice Minister Michael Baker. "We can only imagine how painful the last seven years have been."

In developing its response, the province sought and accepted legal advice from Brian Johnston, a lawyer who specializes in labour, employment and administrative law. Over the past eight months Mr. Johnston received information from the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union, Combined Employees for Restorative Justice (CERJ), past and current employees not represented by CERJ and representatives of government departments.

Employees are entitled to compensation of between $5,000 and $40,000, depending upon individual circumstances and harm suffered. Pension adjustments will also be available for a small number of employees who experienced a financial loss because of early retirement as a result of false allegations. The province's response could cost up to $8 million, depending on the number of employees who accept the offer.

In January of this year, Fred Kaufman presented his findings regarding the province's response to allegations of institutional abuse. He found the program was flawed and was unfair to true victims of abuse and to innocent employees. The program paid $31 million in compensation to more than 1,200 claimants. The average award for claimants was $25,000.