Kimberly Rogers Inquest Alerts

NDP Poverty Critic, Tony Martin, MPP Sault Ste. Marie (NDP)
Questions Minister Elliott in Legislature - Dec. 2, 2002

December 3, 2002

Mr Tony Martin (Sault Ste Marie): My question is for the Premier. Your government's welfare policies are the prime focus of the inquest into Kimberley Rogers's death. Your Ministry of Community, Family and Children's Services should have standing at the inquest so that you can ask questions and learn from the mistakes.

Premier, why has the Ministry of Community, Family and Children's Services not chosen to seek standing, when it's this ministry that needs to be there the most?


Hon Ernie Eves (Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs): Mr
Speaker, I'm sure the minister can respond.


Hon Brenda Elliott (Minister of Community, Family and Children's Services):
My colleague across the way will know that in any matter before the courts, it's inappropriate that we speak about any particular case. We in our ministry have made it very clear that we are willing to co-operate in any situation where information is required by the courts or by the police in any case. We have said that in the past and will continue to honour that commitment.

With regard to welfare, we have made a number of changes in the welfare system. It has been entirely transformed under our government as an employment and supports opportunity that has been referenced to me personally by at least one person as being transformed into opportunities galore.


Mr Martin: Premier, a pregnant woman died living under the stifling effects of your welfare policies. You locked her up and took away her money and her food. Since then, instead of cutting people off for three months, you now cut them off for life. You not only lock the door, you throw away the key. You shouldn't be an absentee landlord at your own hearings, Premier, just as you shouldn't have policies that lead to the loss of life.

Will you raise social assistance rates to cover the minimum costs of living? At the very least, will you end your government's inhumane lifetime ban?


Hon Mrs Elliott: My colleague must understand -- surely he understands, having been in this House for some time, that's it's completely inappropriate that we speak about any individual case. More to the point, there is a very serious court case underway. There are people who are going to make decisions, and it's entirely inappropriate that we would, here in this place, prejudge decisions that would be made. I think he understands that, and certainly if he doesn't, he should, having been in this place for some time.