Nova Scotia’s Community Services Minister Joanne Bernard has ordered a policy review as one family fights to keep what remains of an insurance settlement to pay for a disabled woman’s care.
“My heart goes out to this family, as does the premier’s,” Bernard told the Halifax Chronicle Herald. “We never want to see a family have to get to this point of eight years later going before the courts and advocating for their daughter. It’s certainly touched a nerve with Nova Scotians.”
Saying that she doesn’t want the Department of Community Services seen as an entity “that is uncompassionate or not caring,” Bernard said that both she and the premier are committed to providing the best care possible for Joellan Huntley, the victim of a car crash more than 18 years ago who suffered a catastrophic brain injury.
Huntley has been left unable to speak or walk following a car accident in 1996.
Huntley's family is currently in court fighting an attempt by the province to claw back a $1 million insurance settlement won for her care.
A decision in Huntley's case is expected on January 9.
Bernard defended the province's position last week, saying then that there was an expectation that people should have to pay for care provided by the province.
Nova Scotia’s Social Assistance Act says the minister “may” recover long-term care costs.
The decision to review the policy on catastrophic insurance this week comes amid a howl of public outcry, and a scathing front-page editorial in the Monday edition of the Chronicle Herald, calling on the government to “end this cruel farce.”
