Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) is now processing applications for the Common Experience Payment (CEP) Reconsideration Process.

All CEP applicants eligible for reconsideration, who have not already applied, will soon be receiving a letter informing them about the Reconsideration Process. This letter will be from the National Administration Committee (NAC), the mutli-party Committee overseeing the administration of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.

What is the Reconsideration Process?

The Reconsideration Process is a second review by the Government, as Administrator to the court-supervised process, to ensure that the original decision for each applicant is accurate and appropriate. The review will also consider any additional information provided by the applicant.

Am I eligible for the Reconsideration Process?

To be eligible for reconsideration, the former student for whom the application is made must:

• Have been a resident at an Indian Residential School(s), not a day student;
• Have resided at a school that is on the list of recognized Indian Residential Schools;
• Have been alive on May 30, 2005;
  or
• Lived at the Mohawk Institute Residential Boarding School in Brantford, Ontario between 1922 and 1969, and been alive on October 5, 1996.

When should I apply?

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of your CEP decision, and you have not already applied for the Reconsideration Process, you have six months from the date noted at the top of your CEP decision letter or from the date the NAC letter is issued, whichever is later, to apply for the Reconsideration Process.

If you do not apply for the Reconsideration Process, you will not be able to appeal your assessment any further.

How do I apply?

The process to have your claim reconsidered is easy. Reconsideration application forms   may be submitted by mail, fax, email or telephone to:

Common Experience Payment Response Centre
P.O. Box 5260
Nepean LCD Merivale
Ottawa, ON K2C 3H5

• Fax: 1-866-352-4080
• E-mail: reconsideration@inac-ainc.gc.ca
• CEP Response Centre Toll Free: 1-866-565-4526

It is important to note that applicants do not need to find their records or provide additional information in order to have their file reconsidered. However, we encourage applicants to provide any information they may have that might help researchers to confirm residence and years of residence.

Our objective is to ensure that all eligible former Indian Residential School students are compensated according to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.

How long will it take to have my CEP reconsidered?

It is important to note that although some requests may be processed in early March, 2008, the majority will be processed within 90 days from now (if you have already submitted a reconsideration request) or up to 90 days after you apply. Some requests will be extremely complex and may take up to 160 days to process.

Many Reconsideration files have taken longer than expected to process, in part due to the volume of requests, but in part because we need every opportunity to find information that proves that an applicant lived at one of the eligible residential schools in the Agreement.

What happens if I'm not satisfied with the reconsideration decision?

After reconsideration, if the applicant still disagrees with the decision that has been made, they have the right to appeal to the NAC. Additional details on the Appeal Process will be provided in writing with the reconsideration letter. Applicants will not be able to appeal to the NAC until they have gone through the Reconsideration Process.

Where do I find more information?

• Visit the Court website to view the Final Settlement Agreement and Schedules  
• Call the CEP Response Centre Toll Free: 1-866-565-4526