The following is a letter written in response to the Times Colonist article.

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Your Jan 15th report, "Ministry worker stabbed," by Bill Cleverley is
riddled with unexamined irony.

Cleverley reports that "the victim, a pass holder at the rec centre, was
well known to staff. The assailant was not." Of course the assailant was
unknown to staff! Welfare recipients cannot afford recreation perks.

Then, "Saanich police ... confirmed that the attack was not random, was
unprovoked and that the victim and the assailant knew  each other."
Unprovoked? The system is the provocation. Ministry employment and
assistance workers determine whether or not someone will get a crisis grant
for food, medicine or heating; whether or not their assistance will be
reduced or cut off; whether or not their disability application is accepted
or denied; whether or not they will get a rent subsidy; whether or not... It
goes on and on. It boils down to whether or not someone will have a home to
live in, whether or not they will live or die.

Susan Brice's comments point to further questions: "The most important thing
now is that our employee is receiving the care  needed for a complete and
successful recovery. His family knows our thoughts are with them." Where are
her thoughts for the  man on Welfare who was driven to take such an act, or
for his family? And think about what is suggested by the Ministry having "a
plan in place to help employees deal with incidents such as this.''

How many incidents have there been and what steps, if any, have been taken
to address their cause? To be on the system means to suffer abuse. It's as
simple as that. Until the system is purged of its dehumanizing, demeaning
and incredibly controlling policies and practices, the number of violent
incidents is likely to escalate. We do not condone such acts. We make a mere
statement of fact.

Finally, the legitimate concern to provide counselling for the staff and
patrons of the recreation centre and for employees of the  Ministry raises
another question. Did the assailant and his family receive any counselling,
particularly before the incident? We  suspect not. How about "flowers and
chocolates"?

Does no one see the desperation and hopelessness that can drive a man to do
what Pharand did?

Chrystal Ocean, Angela Scotton, Daphne Moldowin
Wellbeing through Inclusion Socially & Economically
http://www.wise-bc.org/
250-748-8093

ORDER NOW! Policies of Exclusion, Poverty & Health: Stories from the Front
http://www.wise-bc.org/CVProject/book.html

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