No amount of money can erase the years of abuse they suffered as children in an Ontario facility for the developmentally disabled, but a $35-million settlement will help ensure former residents of the institution get justice, two plaintiffs in the case said Tuesday.
Marie Slark and Patricia Seth took the stand before a courtroom packed with those who share their harrowing memories of the Huronia Regional Centre in Orillia, Ont. to weigh in on the deal reached in September.
The agreement, which also calls for the province to formally apologize for what happened at the now-shuttered facility, was signed just as the case was scheduled to go to trial.
"We appreciate the apology, but no amount of money will give us our lives back," said Slark, one of the lead plaintiffs along with Seth.
She also raised concerns about the claim process, saying many plaintiffs will need help to fill out forms and navigate the system.
Slark nonetheless hoped the settlement would be approved by the court, which was hearing submissions on the agreement from lawyers and plaintiffs Tuesday.
Some in the crowd objected to what they considered paltry compensation, while others expressed fears that they would be overwhelmed by red tape and legal jargon.
Kirk Baert, who represents the plaintiffs, argued the agreement was "sure, immediate and guaranteed," unlike a lengthy and risky trial with no promise of success.
He acknowledged the amount fell short of the $2 billion the plaintiffs sought, and that no sum could make up for the abuse and neglect they allegedly endured.
"There's no settlement that I know of that can make us go back in time and make these things not happen," he said.
"We have to look at what is achievable in reality."
The suit covered those institutionalized at the centre between 1945 and 2009, many of whom are now aged or dying.
It alleged residents suffered almost daily humiliation and abuse at the overcrowded facility, which closed in 2009.
Some said they worked in the fields for little or no money, and recalled being forced to walk around with no pants on as punishment for speaking out of turn.
The case's last-minute resolution meant former residents weren't called to testify -- a boon for some but a bitter disappointment for those eager to have their experience come to light.
Part of the centre's grim history was laid out in court Tuesday at the request of the judge, who said it was important "for the story of Huronia to be told in open court."
In deciding whether to approve the settlement, Justice Barbara Conway must consider whether the settlement is fair and whether both sides made a reasonable effort to negotiate in good faith, among other factors.
Details of the claim process, including wording of the claim form, will be determined at a future hearing.
Heather Wright will have more on this story on CTV News at 6:00 tonight.
