A Nunavut judge is giving the territorial government a final chance to file its appeal of her 2006 ruling on youth support.

Justice Beverly Browne had ordered the government to change a section of Nunavut's Child and Family Services Act, ruling it is discriminatory because it has no provision to help youth who are 16 or 17 years old.

The Nunavut government had announced it would appeal her November 2006 decision. But a year and a half later, it has yet to file its appeal documents with the court.

Browne had given the government one year to change the act.

In an Iqaluit courtroom Thursday, Browne agreed to adjourn the matter until August. But she told the court that the government's appeal will be dismissed if it doesn't take any steps by then.

In her ruling, Browne said part of the act violated the Charter of Rights and Freedoms because it does not ensure access to shelter, food and proper care for 16- and 17-year-olds who do not have a legal parent.

A section of the act leaves it up to the director of child and family services to decide whether to help clients in that age group.

The judge's decision arose from a complaint launched by legal aid lawyer Chris Debicki, on behalf of a client who was 17 at the time.

Debicki argued that the young man, who had lived in foster homes since he was seven, was a permanent ward until he turned 16.

At that time, the teenager was too old for full child and family protection but too young to qualify for adult social service programs like social assistance.

As a result, Debicki argued, the young man had no guaranteed access to basic services such as housing and social assistance.