Canada disputes health care costs for disabled Native teen

Thursday, January 9, 2014  

The Canadian government has spent more in legal fees than on health care for a disabled Native teen in Nova Scotia, CBC News reports.

A federal court ordered the government to pay for the same level of care that Jeremy Meawasige would receive if he lived off reserve. But rather than comply with the decision, the Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development has spent nearly $200,000 to continue litigation.

The bill would have covered nearly three years of Meawasige's care, CBC reports. The teen's mother, Maurina Beadle, said she will continue to fight for equal treatment.

'The federal government is spending far too much money trying to deny him home care than it would cost just to provide him with the services that he needs," Beadle's lawyer told CBC.

Meawasige lives on the Pictou Landing First Nation. He suffers from erebral palsy, autism, spinal curvature and hydrocephalus.

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Ottawa's legal bills mount over aboriginal teen's bid for care (CBC 1/8)