It's true that breaching the confidentiality agreement could cause even more trauma, but now it's up to Canada to step up and ensure the survivors have all of the help they need to heal from the wounds of the schools, whatever the cost.

Sen. Lynn Beyak has told Indigenous people in Canada to "Trade your status card for a Canadian citizenship, with a fair and negotiated payout to each Indigenous man, woman and child." But Canada could never afford the "bizarre" proposal, says Tim Fontaine.

The most glaring demonstration of the disingenuity of the promise of this new relationship is the long-standing and continued discrimination against First Nations children on reserves.