Ottawa fighting to avoid paying $80M in First Nations child welfare legal fees

Five legal firms are seeking $80 million plus applicable taxes and about $600,000 in out-of-pocket expenses from the federal government, according to a motion filed in Federal Court.

The government told CBC News it's committed to reaching a fair agreement on legal bills but the proposed fees are too high. It's expected to file its response to the lawyers' billing with the court next week.

"The $80 million requested by legal counsel would result in some lawyers being paid more than $4,500 per hour," wrote Zeus Eden, press secretary to Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu.

"In our view, this is excessive."

The federal government reached a $40 billion settlement agreement on discrimination in the on-reserve child welfare system after two separate class action lawsuits were combined into one.

Half of the settlement is meant for compensation, while the other half is for long-term system reform.