TORONTO - A judge has approved a $32.7-million settlement to compensate victims of two now-closed institutions for the developmentally disabled in Ontario.
Lawyers for the victims and the provincial government had urged Ontario Superior Court Justice Barbara Conway to approve the deal that includes a formal apology from the premier.
Conway calls the settlements "fair, reasonable and in the best interests" of the class members.
The deal was reached in December and calls for members of the class action suit to receive payments ranging from $2,000 to $35,000.
It covers about 4,300 former residents of the Rideau Regional Centre in Smiths Falls, Ontario and the Southwestern Regional Centre near Chatham, Ontario.
Many of the residents -- most of whom began living at the facilities as children -- suffered physical and sexual abuse at the prison-like institutions.
Court heard that nothing was done despite complaints to government ministers and their deputies.
Under the agreement, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne will formally apologize to those sent to Rideau and Southwestern, which the judge calls a "vital and extraordinary" component of the settlement.
