Post by mary on Jun 5, 2007 22:03:39 GMT -5
Province spent $600,000 to fight autism lawsuit, documents show
But New Democrat says figure does not include ministry lawyers or settlements paid out to parents
Jun 05, 2007 04:30 AM
Robert Benzie
Queen's Park Bureau Chief
Premier Dalton McGuinty's government has spent more than $600,000 fighting parents of autistic children in court, according to newly released documents.
In a letter to the lawyer representing NDP MPP Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt), who has sought the legal tab for three years through access to information requests, the attorney general's ministry finally revealed a tally.
The government spent $202,727 on trial transcripts and $341,367 in other costs, such as expert witnesses, in the Superior Court of Justice and $75,264 at the Court of Appeal for a total of $619,358.
But Martel yesterday called the figure "a smokescreen" because it excluded the cost of salaries for four or more ministry lawyers and support staff.
"If this was all there was, ask yourself the question ... why they stonewalled all the way, and why they want to take me to court," she said in an interview.
The letter, written last Thursday to Martel's lawyer Frank Addario by ministry counsel Kim Twohig, also does not address any settlements that may have been paid out.
"Due to privacy obligations pursuant to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, we do not address in this letter any payments that may have been made to the plaintiffs and/or the plaintiffs' counsel that are confidential and private in nature," wrote Twohig.
Martel, who three months ago was slapped with a judicial review notice advising that the government opposes the information release, will be back in court on June 18 to get an accounting of the legal tb..On Feb. 14, Information and Privacy Commissioner Ann Cavoukian ruled the Liberals should release the information to Martel within a month.
The controversy dates back to April 2003 when 29 families launched a $100 million lawsuit against the Progressive Conservative government of then-premier Ernie Eves. They were suing because their autistic children were denied costly intensive behaviour intervention therapy after age 6.
During the 2003 election, McGuinty said it was "unfair and discriminatory" for parents to have to spend up to $70,000 a year for the treatment, yet continued the lawsuit after taking power.
Attorney General Michael Bryant emphasized that no outside counsel was retained for the legal fight.
But New Democrat says figure does not include ministry lawyers or settlements paid out to parents
Jun 05, 2007 04:30 AM
Robert Benzie
Queen's Park Bureau Chief
Premier Dalton McGuinty's government has spent more than $600,000 fighting parents of autistic children in court, according to newly released documents.
In a letter to the lawyer representing NDP MPP Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt), who has sought the legal tab for three years through access to information requests, the attorney general's ministry finally revealed a tally.
The government spent $202,727 on trial transcripts and $341,367 in other costs, such as expert witnesses, in the Superior Court of Justice and $75,264 at the Court of Appeal for a total of $619,358.
But Martel yesterday called the figure "a smokescreen" because it excluded the cost of salaries for four or more ministry lawyers and support staff.
"If this was all there was, ask yourself the question ... why they stonewalled all the way, and why they want to take me to court," she said in an interview.
The letter, written last Thursday to Martel's lawyer Frank Addario by ministry counsel Kim Twohig, also does not address any settlements that may have been paid out.
"Due to privacy obligations pursuant to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, we do not address in this letter any payments that may have been made to the plaintiffs and/or the plaintiffs' counsel that are confidential and private in nature," wrote Twohig.
Martel, who three months ago was slapped with a judicial review notice advising that the government opposes the information release, will be back in court on June 18 to get an accounting of the legal tb..On Feb. 14, Information and Privacy Commissioner Ann Cavoukian ruled the Liberals should release the information to Martel within a month.
The controversy dates back to April 2003 when 29 families launched a $100 million lawsuit against the Progressive Conservative government of then-premier Ernie Eves. They were suing because their autistic children were denied costly intensive behaviour intervention therapy after age 6.
During the 2003 election, McGuinty said it was "unfair and discriminatory" for parents to have to spend up to $70,000 a year for the treatment, yet continued the lawsuit after taking power.
Attorney General Michael Bryant emphasized that no outside counsel was retained for the legal fight.