A national advertising campaign kicked off in April to provide notice and inform former students of Indian residential schools of their right to decline the overall settlement agreement between government, churches and Aboriginal Peoples. The optout period for potential claimants will end on Aug. 20. The revised agreement will see lump sum payments distributed to all former students, with extra compensation for cases of serious abuse. The agreement also includes funds for national commemoration events, and a truth and reconciliation commission. If 5000 opt out the agreement will not proceed.
