A recent court ruling against the federal government is being met with applause.
The case involves a disabled 16-year-old boy from the Pictou Landing First Nation in Nova Scotia.
The teenager, whose first name is Jeremy, requires 24-hour care from his mother. However, she suffered a stroke in May of 2010.
The federal government did not step forward with any money for home care, which meant Jeremy would have to go into an institution.
In the end, the First Nation footed the bill for his care, leaving Jeremy at home.
Last week, a federal court sided with the band under the auspices of ‘Jordan’s Principle’, a measure which says government must step forward when there are questions over jurisdiction to make sure the child receives timely care.
The court determined Ottawa must reimburse the First Nation for the costs it bore in the case.
NDP Aboriginal Affairs critic Jean Crowder says she’s happy for the decision, but wishes the case hadn’t wound up in the courts:
“I am sad to say that First Nations are forced into the courts after the House of Commons unanimously passed the motion on Jordan’s Principle a number of years ago.”
Crowder says she hopes this means there won’t be any more First Nations families that have to go through what Jeremy and his family did.
The Assembly of First Nations is also applauding the ruling.
The court decision also said that Jordan’s Principle cannot be narrowly interpreted.
It was named after a First Nations boy named Jordan Anderson who died in an institution while provincial and federal officials fought over who should pay for his care.