COURT OF APPEAL FOR ONTARIO

CITATION: Fontaine v. Canada (Attorney General), 2016 ONCA 802

DATE: 20161028

DOCKET: C59310, C59311 and C59320

Strathy C.J.O., Sharpe and MacFarland JJ.A.

BETWEEN

Larry Philip Fontaine in his personal capacity and in his capacity as the Executor of the Estate of Agnes Mary Fontaine, deceased, Michelline Ammaq, Percy Archie, Charles Baxter Sr., Elijah Baxter, Evelyn Baxter, Donald Belcourt, Nora Bernard, John Bosum, Janet Brewster, Rhonda Buffalo, Ernestine Caibaiosai‑Gidmark, Michael Carpan, Brenda Cyr, Deanna Cyr, Malcolm Dawson, Ann Dene, Benny Doctor, Lucy Doctor, James Fontaine in his personal capacity and in his capacity as the Executor of the Estate of Agnes Mary Fontaine, Deceased, Vincent Bradley Fontaine, Dana Eva Marie Francey, Peggy Good, Fred Kelly, Rosemarie Kuptana, Elizabeth Kusiak, Theresa Larocque, Jane McCullum, Cornelius McComber, Veronica Marten, Stanley Thomas Nepetaypo, Flora Northwest, Norman Pauchey, Camble Quatell, Alvin Barney Saulteaux, Christine Semple, Dennis Smokeyday, Kenneth Sparvier, Edward Tapiatic, Helen Winderman and Adrian Yellowknee

Plaintiffs (Respondents)

and

The Attorney General of Canada, The Presbyterian Church in Canada, The General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada, The United Church of Canada, The Board of Home Missions of the United Church of Canada, The Women’s Missionary Society of the Presbyterian Church, The Baptist Church in Canada, Board of Home Missions And Social Services of The Presbyterian Church in Bay, The Canada Impact North Ministries of the Company for the Propagation of the Gospel in New England (also known as the New England Company), The Diocese of Saskatchewan, The Diocese of the Synod of Cariboo, The Foreign Mission of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, The Incorporated Synod of the Diocese of Huron, The Methodist Church of Canada, The Missionary Society of the Anglican Church of Canada, The Missionary Society of the Methodist Church of Canada (also known as the Methodist Missionary Society of Canada), The Incorporated Synod of the Diocese of Algoma, The Synod of the Anglican Church of the Diocese of Quebec, The Synod of the Diocese of Athbasca, The Synod of the Diocese of Brandon, The Anglican Synod of the Diocese of British Columbia, The Synod of the Diocese of Calgary, The Synod of the Diocese of Keewatin, The Synod of the Diocese of Qu’appelle, The Synod of the Diocese of New Westminister, The Synod of the Diocese of Yukon, The Trustee Board of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, The Board of Home Missions and Social Service of The Presbyterian Church of Canada, The Women’s Missionary Society of the United Church of Canada, Sisters of Charity, A Body Corporate also known as Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, Halifax, also known as Sisters of Charity Halifax, Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of Halifax, Les Soeurs de Notre Dame‑Auxiliatrice, Les Soeurs de St. Francois d’Assise, Insitut des Soeurs du Bon Conseil, Les Soeurs de Saint-Joseph de Saint Hyancinthe, Les Soeurs de Jésus-Marie, Les Soeurs de l’Assomption de la Sainte-Vierge, Les Soeurs de l’Assomption de la Sainte-Vierge de l’Alberta, Les Soeurs de la Charite de St.-Hyacinthe, Les Oeuvres Oblates de l’Ontario, Les Residences Oblates du Quebec, La Corporation Episcopale Catholique Romaine de la Baie James (The Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of James Bay), The Catholic Diocese of Moosonee, Soeurs Grises de Montreal/Grey Nuns of Montreal, Sisters of Charity (Grey Nuns) of Alberta, Les Soeurs de la Charite des T.N.O., Hotel‑Dieu de Nicolet, The Grey Nuns of Manitoba Inc.‑Les Soeurs Grises du Manitoba Inc., La Corporation Episcopale Catholique Romaine de la Baie d’Hudson ‑ The Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of Hudson’s Bay, Missionary Oblates ‑ Grandin Province, Les Oblats de Marie Immaculée du Manitoba, The Archiepiscopal Corporation of Regina, The Sisters of the Presentation, The Sisters of St. Joseph of Sault St. Marie, Sisters of Charity of Ottawa, Oblates of Mary Immaculate – St. Peter’s Province, The Sisters of Saint Ann, Sisters of Instruction of the Child Jesus, The Benedictine Sisters of Mt. Angel Oregon, Les Pères Montfortains, The Roman Catholic Bishop of Kamloops Corporation Sole, The Bishop of Victoria, Corporation Sole, The Roman Catholic Bishop of Nelson, Corporation Sole, Order of The Oblates of Mary Immaculate in the Province of British Columbia, The Sisters of Charity of Providence of Western Canada, La Corporation Episcopale Catholique Romaine de Grouard, Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of Keewatin, La Corporation Archiepiscopale Catholique Romaine de St. Boniface, Les Missionnaires Oblates Sisters de St. Boniface – The Missionary Oblates Sisters of St. Boniface, Roman Catholic Archiepiscopal Corporation of Winnipeg, La Corporation Episcopale Catholique Romaine de Prince Albert, The Roman Catholic Bishop of Thunder Bay, Immaculate Heart Community of Los Angeles, Ca., Archdiocese of Vancouver ‑ The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Vancouver, Roman Catholic Diocese of Whitehorse, The Catholic Episcopale Corporation of Mackenzie‑Fort Smith, The Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of Prince Rupert, Episcopal Corporation of Saskatoon, Omi Lacombe Canada Inc. and Mt. Angel Abbey Inc.

Defendants (Appellants/Respondents by way of cross-appeal; Respondent/Appellant by way of cross-appeal)

Counsel

Charles Gibson and Ian Houle, for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Sault Ste. Marie

Janine Harding, for Twenty-Two Catholic Entities

Pierre Baribeau and Paul Lepsoe, for Nine Catholic Entities

Peter Grant, Diane Soroka and Sandra Staats, for Independent Counsel

Gary Penner and Diane Fernandes, for the Attorney General of Canada

Julian N. Falconer and Julian Roy, for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada

Joanna Birenbaum, for the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

Kate Wilson and Regan Morris, for the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

Stuart Wuttke, for the Assembly of First Nations

Joseph Arvay, Q.C., Catherine Boies Parker and Susan Ross, for the Chief Adjudicator of the Indian Residential Schools Adjudication Secretariat

Heard: By written submissions.

COSTS ENDORSEMENT

[1] The costs of Independent Counsel are fixed at $60,000.00, inclusive of disbursements and all applicable taxes, payable by Canada.

“G.R. Strathy C.J.O.”

“Robert J. Sharpe J.A.”

“J. MacFarland J.A.”