Kimberly Rogers Inquest Alerts

Daily Media Coverage

Post Inquest ACTION KIT - Power of Five to Ban the Bans!

Verdict of Coroner's Jury into the Death of Kimberly Ann Rogers

View Daily Inquest Reports

Post Inquest

• Let's keep fighting system for Kim Rogers' sake by Michele Landsberg Toronto Star Jan 25, 2003

• Kimberly Rogers tribunal results in common sense findings - Provide adequate benefits and never impose a lifetime ban, jury recommends by Reuel S. Amdur, Straight Goods, Jan 13, 2003

• Sault MPP Martin launches campaign for welfare reform in wake of Rogers inquest by Elaine Della-Mattia, Sault Star, Jan. 9, 2003

• Our citizenship is on the rocks - "We must shed real light on the fates of those who flounder outside our society" says activist Catherine Frazee by Catherine Frazee, Globe and Mail, Dec 28

• Cruel welfare rules must be changed Editorial, Toronto Star, Dec. 23

• Ban the ban by Beverly Antle, Ontario Association of Social Workers, Globe and Mail, Dec. 23
• Tory glory, Tory ghosts in uneasy mix by Murray Campbell, Globe and Mail, Dec. 23

• No mercy for those with zero power by Linda McQuaig Toronto Star, Dec. 22

• A season of Tory zero tolerance on compassion by Jim Coyle, Toronto Star, Dec. 21
• Ontario to maintain lifetime welfare ban by Murray Campbell & Keith Lacey, Globe & Mail, Dec. 20
• Give welfare fraudsters a break: jury - Ontario rejects finding: Inquest into suicide of pregnant woman under house arrest by Robert Benzie, National Post, Dec. 20

• Poverty's Bitter Fruits - The welfare system's emphasis on "the shortest route to employment" instead guarantees long-term need by Barbara Anello and Jacquie Chic, Op/Ed, Toronto Star, Dec. 20

• End welfare bans: jury - Crackdown on cheats called 'devastating and detrimental' Osprey Media Group Inc. Dec. 20

• Eves government urged to eliminate ‘homicidal’ punishment for welfare fraud - The coroner’s jury at the inquest into the death of Kimberly Rogers has ruled she committed suicide by Keith Lacey, Northern Life, Dec. 19

• Ease curbs on welfare cheats, jury says - 40-year-old pregnant woman died of overdose while serving house arrest by James McMartin, Canadian Press, Toronto Star, Dec. 19

• End lifetime ban for welfare fraud, jury says by Darren Yourk, Globe and Mail, Dec. 19

December 13 - 18, 2002

• Lifetime ban is 'both morally and fiscally irresponsible' Commentary by Nancy Vander Plaats, The Independent, Dec. 18

• Rogers Inquest Jury to Deliver Verdict & Recommendations on same day as Supreme Court renders judgement on Gosselin Appeal Commentary by Barbara Anello, DAWN Ontario, Dec. 16
  
  

December 11 - 12, 2002 - Closing Submissions

• End Lifetime Welfare Bans, Inquest Urged - Jury to consider recommendations in Rogers' death by Bruce Cowan, North Bay Nugget, Ospry Media Group Inc. Dec. 12
  

December 7, 2002

• Welfare ban ‘a death sentence’ - Rogers inquest nearing a conclusion by Eli Schuster, Osprey Media Group, Dec. 7
• The life and death of Kim Rogers - Was it suicide or an accident? Witnesses debate welfare policies by Kate Harries, Toronto Star, Dec. 7

December 5, 2002

• Welfare system punishes people, professor testifies by Keith Lacey, Northern Life, Dec. 5

• Welfare ‘not enough to live on’ - Rogers inquest hears from two experts critical of Ontario’s welfare system by Eli Schuster, Osprey Media Group, Dec. 5
  
  
  

December 4, 2002

• Jail would've 'isolated' Rogers - Prison life exacerbates or creates mental health difficulties of most women who go to jail, inquest is told by Eli Schuster, Osprey Media Group, Dec. 4
• Justice system not designed to handle welfare fraud cases by Keith Lacey, Northern Life, Dec. 4

December 3, 2002

• Welfare fraud should not be criminalized: poverty law expert - Rogers inquest continues by Eli Schuster, Osprey Media Group, Dec. 3

December 2, 2002

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

November 27, 2002

• Welfare a Kafkaesque hell: activist Being on welfare ‘can send you over the edge if you’re already on the edge,’ Rogers inquest hears by Eli Schuster, Osprey Media Group, Nov. 27

November 26, 2002

• Single mothers living on welfare ‘desperate’ by Keith Lacey, Northern Life, Nov. 26
• Education, poverty linked - The better education, the more job opportunities a person has, Rogers inquest is told Monday by Eli Schuster, Osprey Media Group, Nov. 26

November 23, 2002

• Welfare policy a health risk, inquest told Public health officer raps zero tolerance - Says payments don't cover basic costs by Kate Harries, Toronto Star, Nov. 23

November 22, 2002

• Poverty bad for health, medical officer of health testifies by Keith Lacey, Northern Life, Nov. 22

November 21, 2002

• Woman’s ‘triple whammy’ of troubles led to suicide, U of T expert testifies by Keith Lacey, Northern Life, Nov. 21
• Welfare fraud policies get stern rebuke at inquest Woman's house arrest questioned Heat suggested as cause of suicide by Kate Harries, Toronto Star, Nov. 21
• Suicide expert thinks Rogers killed herself by Keith Lacey, Northern Life, Nov. 21
• House arrest linked to suicide, inquiry told by Keith Lacey, Globe and Mail, Nov. 21
• Psychiatrist defends opinion on Rogers - Despite intense grilling by inquest lawyers, he says it’s likely the pregnant Sudbury woman killed herself by Eli Schuster, Osprey Media Group, Nov. 21
• NDP MPP Tony Martin's Speech in the Ontario Legislature Nov. 21

November 20, 2002

• Courts need mental history: MD - Suicide expert at inquest into woman's death Says records show victim had been stockpiling pills by Kate Harries, Toronto Star, Nov. 20
• Rogers tried to kill herself, suicide expert tells jury The Globe and Mail, CP
• Rogers likely wanted to die: expert - Suicide expert testifies at inquest by Eli Schuster, Osprey Media Group, Nov. 20

• View Pictures from the SWAN (Somerset West Action Network) Bus Visit from Ottawa to Sudbury to Attend the Coroner's Inquest into the Death of Kimberly Rogers
  photo  1  |  2  |   3  |   4   |   5   |   6   |   7  |

November 19, 2002

• Social activists challenge coroner’s ruling Northern Life, Nov. 19
• Welfare fraud rare: inquest - Between 5-10 per cent of welfare claims in Sudbury involved fraud, Rogers hearing told by Eli Schuster, Osprey Media Group, Nov. 19
  
  

November 18, 2002

• Groups fight inquest ruling in Sudbury - Woman died while under house arrest for welfare fraud Coalition says case shows flaws in the justice system by Kate Harries, Toronto Star, Nov. 18
• SWAN Bus from Ottawa to Sudbury to Attend the Coroner's Inquest into the Death of Kimberly Rogers Media Alert dd Nov. 18
  
  

November 11 - 15, 2002 - Inquest not in session during this week

• Disabled man gets house arrest for welfare fraud by Keith Lacey, Northern Life, Nov. 15
  
  

November 8, 2002

• Welfare no living, city official testifies as inquest winds down by Keith Lacey, Northern Life, Nov. 8
• City doesn’t support severe penalty for welfare fraud by Keith Lacey, Northern Life, Nov. 8
• Sudbury social services 'schizophrenic': administrator - Harold Duff tells Rogers inquest his department reports to all levels of government by Eli Schuster, Osprey Media Group, Nov. 8

November 7, 2002

• Woman, who saw Rogers shortly before she died, testifies by Keith Lacey, Northern Life, Nov. 7
• Welfare applicants warned about penalties by Keith Lacey, Special to Globe and Mail, Nov. 7
• Caseworker met Rogers only once - In their one meeting, Sudbury woman was not told about a diet allowance by Eli Schuster, Osprey Media Group, Nov. 7

November 6, 2002

• Woman felt ill day she died, inquest told - Was afraid of going to jail if she left her house by Kate Harries, Toronto Star, Nov. 6
• Rogers excited about pregnancy, inquest told - ‘I never saw any indication she was suicidal,’ suicide counsellor says by Eli Schuster, Osprey Media Group, Nov. 6

November 5, 2002

• Lawyer went out of way to help Kimberly Rogers by Diane Gilhula, Northern Life, Nov. 5
• Rogers would have been given leave: supervisor CP, Star Staff, Nov. 5

November 2, 2002

• House-arrest overdose accidental, inquest told CP, Globe and Mail, Nov. 2
• Women's overdose death accidental - lawyer CP, North Bay Nugget, Nov. 2

November 1, 2002

• Women knew welfare would be suspended by Liz Cowan, Osprey Media Group, Nov. 1

October 31, 2002 - Day 13

• Rogers would have been jailed if Tories hadn’t changed law by Keith Lacey, Northern Life Oct. 31
• NDP MPP Tony Martin's Speech in the Ontario Legislature Oct. 31
• Court knew welfare would be cut, probe told by Keith Lacey, Special to Globe and Mail, Oct. 31
• Sentence Not "Unduly" Harsh, Inquest Told by Liz Cowan, Osprey Media Group, Oct. 31

October 30, 2002 - Day 12

• Finding Answers: the Kimberly Rogers Inquest by Kim Brooks, National Association of Women and the Law [to be published in Jurisfemme vol.21 n.3 Fall 2002]
• House "like the jail" in Sentence, Inquest Told by Liz Cowan, Osprey Media Group, Oct. 30
• Fraud meant jail in '96, probe told by Keith Lacey, Special to The Globe and Mail, Oct. 30

October 29, 2002 - Day 11

• Fraud Could Have Been Prevented by Liz Cowan Osprey Media Group, Oct. 29,

October 28, 2002 - Day 10

• Committee to Remember Kimberly Rogers : press releases dd Oct. 28

October 26, 2002

• A Time When Government Cared - Featured Letter by Susan Scruton, dd Oct. 26

• Welfare prosecutions were few, inquest told by Keith Lacey, Special to The Globe and Mail, Oct. 26

October 25, 2002 - Day 9

• Welfare fraud not open and shut Editorial, The Barrie Examiner, Oct. 25
• Druggists withheld pills, jury told by Keith Lacey, Special to The Globe and Mail, Oct. 25
• Pharmacists testify to filling Rogers' prescriptions by Liz Cowan, Osprey Media Group, Oct. 25
• Program tracked welfare payments by Kate Harries, Toronto Star, Oct 25

October 24, 2002 - Day 8

• Troubled woman apologized for ‘mistake’ by Keith Lacey, Northern Life Oct. 24

• The Inquest into the death of Kimberly Rogers: WHO SHOULD CARE, AND WHY? by Pam Kapoor, NAPO
  
  
  

October 23, 2002 - Day 7

• Doctor denounces welfare ban in fraud cases by Kate Harries, Toronto Star, Oct 23
• Woman altered drug prescription, sister tells inquest by Keith Lacey, Special to Globe and Mail, Oct. 23,

October 21 - 22, 2002 - Days 5 & 6

• Doctor allowed woman to stockpile pills by Keith Lacey, Northern Life, Oct. 22, 2002

• Exchange between Premier Eves & Tony Martin, NDP MPP - from Hansard - Ontario legislature dd Oct. 22

• MD believes Rogers took her own life by Keith Lacey Special to The Globe and Mail, Oct. 22

• Woman's death was suicide, MD tells inquest by Kate Harries, Toronto Star, Oct 22
  
  
  
  

October 19, 2002

• Woman not suicidal, boyfriend testifies by Keith Lacey, Special to The Globe and Mail, Oct.19
  
  
  

October 18, 2002 - Day 4

• House Arrest a Relief, Inquest Told by Kate Harries The Toronto Star Oct. 18
• Globe and Mail - Letters to the Editor dd Oct. 18

October 17, 2002 - Day 3

• No note: Experts can’t determine if Rogers took her own life by Keith Lacey, Northern Life
• Police called for help after woman found dead by Kate Harries, Toronto Star, Oct. 17
• International Day for the Eradication of Poverty NAPO Press Release dd Oct. 17
  
  

October 16, 2002 - Day 2

• House-arrest death was drug overdose by Kate Harries, Toronto Star, Oct. 16
• Rogers’ troubled life opens inquest, Canadian Press, Oct. 16
• Rogers' pregnancy 'was taking a toll' by John Size, Canadian Press, Oct. 16
  
  

October 15, 2002 - Day 1

• NDP MPP Tony Martin's Statement in the Ontario Legislature - Oct. 15
• Inquest begins into welfare mother's death, by Darren Yourk, Globe & Mail, Oct. 15
• Inquest to probe why woman, cut from welfare, died by Murray Campbell, Globe & Mail, Oct.15
• Inquest to probe house-arrest death - Pregnant woman was cut off welfare and confined to home by Kate Harries, Toronto Star, Oct. 15

October 11, 2002 & prior

• Advocacy group can’t get legal aid Northern Life, Oct. 11, 2002
• Inquest into Kimberly Roger's Death Starts Tuesday Press Release - Ontario Social Safety NetWork (OSSN); Ontario Legal Clinics' Steering Committee on Social Assistance (SCSA); Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC), dd Oct. 11, 2002
• Rogers Inquest Jury To Hear from Welfare Advocacy Groups Press Release - Ontario Social Safety NetWork (OSSN); Ontario Legal Clinics' Steering Committee on Social Assistance (SCSA); Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC) dd Sept. 26, 2002
  
  
  

Sample letters to the editor

Public Interest Groups with Standing at the Kimberly Rogers Inquest

Sudbury Social Planning Council

Ontario Social Safety Network (OSSN)
http://dawn.thot.net/ossn
The OSSN is a province-wide organization in which low-income persons form a substantial proportion of membership, and which acts in an advocacy and advisory role. The organization's goal is the eradication of poverty.

Steering Committee for Social Assistance (SCSA)
The SCSA is composed of social assistance caseworkers from Ontario community legal clinics, and advocates on behalf of social assistance recipients.

Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS)
http://www.elizabethfry.ca
CAEFS is a national association whose member agencies provide services to women and girls in the criminal justice system, with particular involvement in sentences served in the community. It is well established and , in addition to its service provision, has advocated for its clients, and acted as a public intervenor at the Supreme Court Level.

Women's Legal Education and Assistance Fund (LEAF)
http://www.leaf.ca
LEAF has been in existence since 1985. It is a national, federally incorporated, not-for-profit organization, which is involved in issues, related to the Charter rights of women and girls, including the impact of criminal justice procedures, and has also acted as a public interest intervenor in court hearings, including the Supreme Court.

National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL)
http://www.nawl.ca
NAWL is a national organization, founded in 1974, whose goal is to advance women's equality through law reform advocacy, research and education. It also has intervened at the Supreme Court Level.

National Anti-Poverty Organization (NAPO)
http://www.napo-onap.ca
NAPO is a national organization, representing the interests of low-income Canadians. A board, all members of which have personal experience with living in poverty, guides it.

Coroner's Ruling re Application for Standing at the Kimberly Rogers Inquest

Rogers Inquest Standing Application (RTF) Ontario Social Safety NetWork (OSSN); Ontario Legal Clinics' Steering Committee on Social Assistance (SCSA)

Ontario Works Statistical Fact Sheet - related to the Kimberly Rogers Inquest

Background on Ontario's Zero Tolerance Policy - FAQs on Lifetime Welfare Ban

Judicial Review Decision in CAEFS v. Dr. David Eden, Coroner (HTML)
View the decision in PDF Format (requires Acrobat Reader)