Days after Justin Trudeau told the United Nations that his government was working hard to improve the quality of life for indigenous peoples in Canada, it has emerged that his government spent more than C$110,000 ($88,000) in legal fees to avoid spending C$6,000 on orthodontics for a First Nations teenager suffering from chronic pain.
The figures, released through the Access to Information Act, were made public by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on Friday. They relate to a continuing court battle that has pitted the federal government against Josey Willier, a teenager from Sucker Creek First Nation, who for two years complained of chronic headaches and jaw pain stemming from an impacted tooth and a severe overbite.
In 2014, two orthodontists warned that without braces, Willier would eventually need invasive jaw surgery. One noted that Willier’s condition would probably worsen and could leave her with difficulties in eating and speaking.
See also:
– A teenager in Alberta was denied coverage twice, once for orthodontics to correct a severe overbite and molars growing sideways, and as a child, for prescription eye drops following surgery to remove a tumor behind her eye.
These are just cases from Alberta, just in the last two years, where people have had the time, energy, resources and support to go public. Imagine how many people this is happening to whose stories don’t go public.
Canada has spent $110,000 to avoid paying $6,000 for indigenous teen’s orthodontics
Lady Jace Of The Fae 