PART C -Decision under Appeal ------The decision under appeal is the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation (ministry) reconsideration decision of February 7th, 2014 wherein the ministry denied the appellant further income assistance for failing to comply with the conditions of his employment plan by failing to demonstrate he made reasonable efforts to participate in his employment program or ceased to participate in the program, due to medical reasons, in accordance with section 9 of the Employment and Assistance Act (EAA); The ministry determined that the appellant did not provide any information to the ministry regarding any circumstances that would interfere with his ability to meet his employment-related obligations as set out in section 29 Employment and Assistance Regulation (EAR). PART D -Relevant Legislation Employrrlent and Assistance Act (EAA), section 9 Employment and Assistance Regulation (EAR), section 29 EAAT 003( 10/06/01) ----· ------------�
PAR T E -Summar of Facts The evidence before the m i nistry at the time of r e consi deration • Me d ical Report -Empl o yability ( MR E) completed by a quest i on on restri ctions speci fic to m ed ical conditions, the physi at this time"; • E m ploy ment Pl an (EP) dat ed February 1 st , 20 13. • EP dated Febru a r y 13 t ", 2 013. • Job Search Tracker for m s s ho w ing contacts between December 1st to January 27 • Request for Rec ons ideration dated Janua ry 25 th , 2 On February 1 st , 2013 t he a ppe lla nt was deemed eligible for completed an Activities Toward Independence" e mployme form completed by his physician and returne d to minist r y office. T ob l ig ations outlined within the E P and he signed the E P the consequences of being deemed non-compliant. On Februar minis try offic e with t h e M R E fo rm comp l ete d b y h is physician. The EAW phy si c ian h ad not id e ntified any restrictio ns on th e appella EP. Agai n, t he EAW revie wed the a p pe llant's obligati ons d e eme d no n -co mplia n t. Th e E AW t h en r e fer re d the appellant s ub-con tra c tor. The appel l ant sig ned t he EP indicat i ng that consequences of b eing deemed non -c o mplian t. On Ma r ch o n an un r ela te d m atter a n d the EAW t ook th e o ppor tunity partic i pat e in th e con tractor's service s an d th e c onsequenc that he u ndersto od. The con ditions se t out in the EP sig ned b y the appellant and to the bes t of m y abil ity in the ac ti vi ties r e q u ire d by the ( f) o f the EP. Sec t io n 3 (a) to (f) state s: a) Term: 2013 -Feb -12 to 201 5-Feb -13 b) Na me of P r ogram/Se r vic e: Wo rk BC Emplo yme nt Se c ) Name o f Cont r a c to r : Work BC Emp loyment Serv d) Details: I a m aware I wi ll be cont act by th e c ontracto Ses s ion. I am a ware that s ho uld I not be co ntacted I will attend their offic e within 5 b u s ine s s days t hereaft assistanc e, I will att e nd and p articipate i n the contractor's p work with the contrac tor to address any issues that may impact my employability and will complet tasks assigned , including any activities that may be set out in my action plan. I will notify the contractor if I am una b le to atten d a session, or when I start or end any employme report any ch anges t o t h e mini st ry . I understand that if I fail to comply with the conditions of my employment plan, I will be ineligible for assistance under the Employment and Assistance Act. I am fully aware of my employment p lan obligations I am fully aware of the consequences of ineligibility should I be non signed by the appellant e) Da t e of Re f err al: 2013-Feb-13 f) Client Reporting Requirements: b!ank On January 14 th , 2014 the EAW recoived commun:cation from the contmctor that the appellant has not been attending and/or participating in the progrnm sir,ce Novembar 23 The fo llowingJ s the contract c,r '. s reco r c l_c) f_t b e_cornmuni cat EMT003(10/06/01) : a p hysician o n February 7 t \ 2013. Responding to cian states " I know of no restrictions th -5 pages; 01 4; i ncom e ass i stanc e and the ministry worker (EA W) nt pl a n to e n able the a pp ellant to have the MRE h e EAW and the appellant revi ewed his a cknowledging that he under stoo d his obligations and y 13 th , 20·13 the a ppellant re t u rn ed to t he r e v ie wed t he MRE form no t ing t hat his nt 's employabi l ity. The EAW then complet ed a n ew stated i n the E P and t he con seque nces of hi m b eing to th e Em ployment P r o g r am of B C's (E P BC ) h e unders to od hi s obl ig atio ns an d the 20 th , 2 0 1 3 th e appella nt at te n ded the ministry off ice to remind h i m of h is oblig ations to att e nd and e s o f be ing n o n-complia nt. The a p pella n t stated on Fe bruary 13 1 \ 20 "1 3 state, "I wil l part i c ip ate fully m in i s try o r co11t ractor a s set o ut i n s ection s 3(a ) to rvi ce s ic e s r wit hi n 5 b usiness d a ys to s ched u le an O r ient ati on b y t he con trac t o r within the !5 s t ated busine s s day s ; er. As a c o ndition of c ontinued el i gib ili ty f or r ogram as di rected by th e contrac t or. I will e all nt . I will declare all income and signed by appellant -co mpliant wit h my em ployment plan th , 201 3 . i on with _ _ t he .J ll_ [ le :c. ll=a'--'- nt _ ' " : __ ------�
Co mmunicati o n O ccur red at Telephone to Clien t Wed Jan 1 5 20 14 9 :4 ' T e lepho n e to Cl ie nt Wed Jan 1 5 201 4 9:41am Teleph on e to Clien t T ues Dec 3120' 1 3 10:32a T e l ephone to Client Tue s D ec '17 2013 8 :46am Teleph on e to Clien t F r i Dec 1 3 2 0 1 3 3 : 2 6pm T e l e p hone to Cl ie nt Th urs De c 1 2 2 013 9 Telepho n e to Cl ie nt Wed N o v 27 2013 3:39am T elephone to Client Tues Nov '19 20 13 11:41 Tele p h o ne t o Clien t F ri Oct 25 20 13 3 : 24pm Telep hone FROM Client We d Oct 23 20'13 1 :00pm Telep hone to Clien t We d Oct 23 20 13 9 :32am Telepho n e to Cli e nt Thu Aug 29 20'1 3 3:49pm Telep hone to Cl ient Wed A ug 1,! 201 3 9:50am T e l e ph one to Cl ie nt Thu May 30 20' 13 3 :27 Telepho n e to Client Mo n M ay 27 2013 1 In Pe rson Thu May 2 2013 · t 1: Telephon e Fr om Clie nt Th u Mar 28 2 01 3 9: Te lephone to Clien t F ri Fe b 22 20'13 Th e followin g is the contractor's r ecord o f th e a ppe lla nt's a Su m mary Start T ime Grou p T hu N ov 28 20 ' 13 1:00pm Works Contr acto r T hu Nov 28 2 0 131 2: 3 0p m A Grou p T hu N ov 07 2013 1 :00pm \Norf,sho Co nt racto r Tue O ct 29 2013 12: 0 0pm Contra c tor M on Oct 2 8 2 0 13 1 :00pm Employment Suppor Group Th u Oc t 1 0 2013 1: 0 0prn Workshop Contra c tor Fri S ep 27 2 0 13 ·1 :30prn Contra c tor Fri S ep 27 2013 10:3 0arn Group Th u Sep 26 2 0 1 3 1: 00pm O n J anuary 22, 2014 the a p pellan t con t a cted t he m inistry and he was advised of hi s non-compliant st a t us. L a ter th district offi c e an d t he EAW adv is ed hirn t he contractor h ad attendance si nce November 2 8 th , 2013. The EAVV asked ap pellant stated that he had moved on Decembe r '1 st , 2013; had spent a couple of days in ano in e arly Decemb er att ending a funeral; had spent two weeks, in another commu Christmas; and had babysat a cat for two weeks. The EAW then asked the appellant if he had anything further to add as to why he did not follow the contractor's program in compliance with his EP. When he did not, the EAW advised the appel lant his explan ation was not satisfactory assistance for non-c ompliance. In the Notice of Appe al the appellant stated, "I disagree with the ministry'i; searching for a job my very hardest and I've hacl no luck attend the workshops available with [the contractor]. The panel finds that the statements in the appellant's J\lotice of 1\ppeal contain informal.ion in support of the information and records that were bef ore l11e minister when the statements provide information on the appellant's position regarding his appeal, the panel finds that the item admissible,as evidence in accgrdancll vnt;:, §_ectiori 22(4l_EAA. EAAT 003( 10/06/01) Result 1am Comp l ia nce rem inder C ompliance r eminde r m C om pl iance r eminder Left Messag e Lef t Mess age :52am L eft Mess age Answered am L ef t Messag e Le ft Mess age Answered L ef t Mess ag e L eft Messa ge Answe red pm L e fi Message 1: 16am L eft M e ssa g e 13am Suc cessful 00am An swered Ans w ered tt en dan ce t o app ointme nts/p rograms : Categ or y statu s/O utcome hop No-s how ppo i nt m ent N o s how p N o-sl 1ow A ppointment At tend ed t S ervi c es Attende d No-show App ointment A ttend ed App oint ment Res c hed u l e d W o rkshop A ttended office to inqu ir e a bout hi s i nco m e assist a nce che qu e is s ame date the, app ellan t attend ed the ministry's ad vise d lhe ministr y t hat he had not been in for an explanation of his non-attendance and the t h er communit y nity, with his f amily al an d he w a s b e ing denied further inco me decisio,1 because I have been yet. I a t tend sc h o ol Tuesd a ys ancl Thursdays. Also I decision being ap pealed w as m a de. As the is
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T h e p a n e l f i n d s t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s t e s t i m o n y i s r e l e v a n t t o t h c o n t a i n i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t i s i n s u p p o r t o f t h e i n f o r m a t i o n a r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n w a s m a d e a n d H 1 e r e f o r e i s a d m T h e m i n i s t r y r e l i e d o n t h e f a c t s a s s t a t e d i n t h e r e c o n s i d e -· ------. -· . --E M T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 E / 0 I )[ 2 5 1 2 0 1 4 f r \ o m a n a d u l t e d u c a t i o n f a c i l i t y w a s f a x e d A T ) . T h 8 m e m o p r o v i d e d a n a t t e n d a n c e r e p o r t i n t h e , 2 0 1 4 a n d s t c 1 t e s t h e a p p e l l a n t w a s i n a t t e n d a n c e 3 o c c u r r e d a f t e r t h e r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n o f s s i b l e a s e v i d e n c e u n d e r s e c t i o n 2 2 ( 4 ) E A A a s t h i s w a s n o t b e f o r e t h e m i n i s t r y a t t h e t i m e t h e r d t o f i n d a j o b . T h e a p p e l l a n t t o l d t h e p a n e l t h a t h e n g a n d h e d i d n o t h a v e a c e l l p h o n e a n d s o h e w a s T h e a p p e l l a n t s t a t e d w h e n h i s g r a n d p a r e n t s a r e a w a y m e s s a g e s . H e t e s t i f i e d h e w o u l d a s k h i s g r a n d f a t h e r o l d n o . T h e a p p e l l a n t t e s t i f i e d t h a t h e i s v e r y r e l i a b l e i n o n e y o u n e e d t o w o r k a t i t " . T h e a p p e l l a n t t e s t i f i e d r c o m m u n i t y f o r t w o d a y s a s s i s t i n g a f r i e n d ' s f a m i l y e t o l o o l < e d a f t e r h i s g i r l f r i e n d ' s c a t f o r t w o w e e k s ; a n d m u n i t y , f o r a c o u p l e o f w e e k s ; t o c e l e b r a t e C h r i s t m a s . t e s t i f i e d t h a t h e d i d n ' t l o o k f o r w o r k w h i l e i n h i s f r i e n d ' s c a u s e h e d i d n ' t l i v e i n t h o s e c o m m u n i t i e s a n d d i d n ' t ' t l i v e t h e r e . H e t e s t i f i e d t h a t h e d i d n ' t t h i n k t o d i s c u s s . T h e a p p e l l a n t a c k n o w l e d -;i e d t h a t h e d i d n o t d o t h e e k a s r e q u i r e d i n h i s a c t i o n p l a n o f t h e E P ; t h a t h e l o s t e t e t h e j o b s e a i · c 1 1 r e p o r t f r o m m e m o r y . T h e a p p e l l a n t t r a c t o r a n d n o w u n d e r s t a n d : , t h a t h e s h o u l d h a v e a v e b u s p a s s e s f o r t r a v e l l i n g . T h e a p p e l l a n t a l s o e w a s g o i n g t o a s s i s t h i s f r i e n d s i n a n o t h e r s d u r i n g C h r i s t m a s a n d t h a t h e w o u l d n o t b e a v a i l a b l e e i s s u e u n d e r a p p e a l a n d t h a t h i s t e s t i m o n y d o e s n d r e c o r d t h a t w a s b e f o r e t h e m i n i s t r y a t t h e t i r n e t h e i s s i b l e a s e v i d e n c e u n d e r s e c t i o n 2 2 ( 4 ) E , \ A r a t i o n d e c i s i o n . --· · -. · --------· · ----�
P A R T F R e a s o n s f o r P a n e l D e c i s i o n T h e i s s u e u n d e r a p p e a l i s t h . ---' e � M i n i s t r y o C...-- f S o c � i a l D e v e l o p d e c i s i o n o f F e b r u a r y 7 t h , 2 0 1 4 w h e r e i n t h e m i n i s t r y d e n t o c o m p l y w i t h t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f h i s e m p l o y m e n t p l a n b y p a r t i c i p a t e i n h i s e m p l o y m e n t p r o g r a m 0 1 · c e a s e d t o p a r t a c c o r d a n c e w i t h s e c t i o n 9 o f t h e E m p l o y m e n t a n d A s s i s A n d f u r t h e 1 · , t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t d i d n o t p r o v i d e a n y i n f o r m w o u l d i n t e rf e r e w i t h h i s a b i l i t y t o m e e t h i s e m p l o y m e n t -. i · T h e l e g i s l a t i o n c o n s i d e r e d : E A A S e c t i o n 9 ( 1 ) F o r a f a m i l y u n i t t o b e e l i g i b l e f o r i n c o m e a s s i s t R e c i p i e n t i n t h e f a m i l y u n i t , w h e n r e q u i r e d t o d o ( a ) e n t e r i n t o a n e m p l o y m e n t p l a n , a n d ( b ) c o m p l y w i t h t h e c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e e m p l o y ( 4 ) I f a n e m p l o y m e n t p l a n i n c l u d e s a c o n d i t i o n r e q u p a r t i c i p a t e i n a s p e c i f i c e m p l o y m e n t r e l a t e d p r o g ( a ) f a i l s t o d e m o n s t r a t e r e a s o n a b l e e f f o r t s t o ( b ) c e a s e s , e x c e p t f o r m e d i c a l r e a s o n s , t o p E A R C o n s e q u e n c e s o f f a i l i n g t o m e e t e m p l o y rn e n t r e l a i < , d o b S e c t i o n 2 9 ( 1 ) F o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f s e c t i o n 1 3 ( 2 ) ( a ) { c o n s e q u e n c e s A c t , ( a ) f o r a d e f a u l t r e f e r r e d t o i n s e c t i o n 1 3 ( ' I ) ( a ) o f t h e A p r o v i d e d t o o r f o r t h e f a m i l y u n i t m u s t b e rn d u c e c l b y $ l a t e r o f t h e f o l l o w i n g d a t e s : ( i ) t h e d a t e o f t h e a p p l i c a n t ' s s u b m i s s i o n o f t h e a p p l r e g u l a t i o n ; ( B . C . R e g . 3 0 4 / 2 0 0 5 ) ( i i ) t h e d a t e t h e d e f a u l t o c c u r r e d , a n d ( B . C . H e g . 2 6 ( b ) f o r a d e f a u l t r e f e r r e d t o i n s e c t i o n 1 3 ( " I ) ( b ) o f t h e A p r o v i d e d t o o r f o r t h e f a m i l y u n i t m u s t b e r e d u c E , d b y $ · I f o l l o w i n g o c c u r s : ( i ) t h e i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e o r h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e p r o c a l e n d a r m o n t h ; ( i i ) t h e m i n i s t e r i s s a t i s f i e d t h a t t h e a p p l i c a n t o r r e c i p r e a s o n a b l e e f f o r t s t o s e a r c h f o r e rn p l o y m e n t . ( B . C . R ( 2 ) T h e r e d u c t i o n u n d e r s u b s e c t i o n ( 1 ) a p p l i e s i n r e , ; ; p e c d o e s a n y t h i n g p r o h i b i t e d u n d e r s e c t i o n 1 3 ( 1 ) [ c o m ; e q u e o f t h e A c t . ( 3 ) F o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f s e c t i o n 1 3 ( 2 ) ( b ) [ c o n s e q u e n c e s A c t , t h e p e r i o d o f i n e l i g i b i l i t y f o r i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e l a s t s ( a ) f o r a d e f a u l t r e f e r r e d i n t o s e c t i o n 1 3 ( 1 ) ( c1 ) o f t h e A l a t e r o f t h e f o l l o w i n g d a t e s : ( i ) t h e d a t e o f t h e a p p l i c a n t ' s s u b m i s s i o n o f t i 1 e a p p l i � _ r _ e � 1 1 l a U 0 1 1 ; ( B . C . R e !LlQ 4 / _ 2 0 D _2 t � . ----� � · · · · · · -· E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 l 0 1 )-· -, . ----------'-, -m -e n t a n � d S o c i a l I n n o v a t i o n ( m i n i s t r y ) r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n i e d t h e a p p e l l a n t f u 1 i h e r i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e f o r f a i l i n g f a i l i n g t o d e m o n s t r a t e h e m a d e r e a s o n a b l e e f f o rt s t o i c i p a t e i n t h e p r o g r a m , d u e t o m e d i c a l r e a s o n s , i n t a n c e A c t ( E A A ) : a t i o n t o t h e m i n i s t r y r e g a r d i n g a n y c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h a t e l a t e d o b l i g a t i o n s a s s e t o u t i n s e c t i o n 2 9 E A R a n c e o r h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e , e a c h a p p l i c a n t o r s o b y t h e m i n i s t e r , m u s t m e n t p l a n . i r i n g a n a p p l i c a n t , a r e c i p i e n t o r a d e p e n d e n t y o u t h t o r a m , t h a t c o n d i t i o n i s n o t m e t i f t h e p e r s o n p a r t i c i p a t e i n \ 1 1 e p r o g r a m , o r a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e p r o g r a m . l i g a t i o n s o f n o t m e e t i n u e m p l o y m e n t r e l a t e d o b l i g a t i o n s ] o f t h e c t , t h e i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e o r h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e 1 0 0 f o r e a c h o f 2 c a l e n d a r m o n t h s s t a r t i n g f r o m t h e i c a t i o n f o r i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e ( p a r t 2 ) f o r m u n d e r t h i s 3 / 2 0 0 2 ) c t , t h e i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e o r h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e 0 0 f o r e a c h c a l e n d a r m o n t h u n t i l t h e l a t e r o f t h e v i d e d t o t h e f a m i l y u n i t h a s b e e n r e d u c e d f o r o n e i e n t w h o c o m m i t t e d t h e d e f a u l t i s d e m o n s t r a t i n g e g . 2 6 : 3 / 2 0 0 2 ) t o f e a c h a p p l i c a n t o r r e c i p i e n t i n a f a m i l y u n i t w h o n c e s o l ' n o t m e e t i n g e m p l o y m e n t r e l a t e d o b l i g a t i o n s ] o f n o t m e e t i n g e m p l o y m e n t r e l a t e d o b l i g a t i o n s ] o f t h e c t , u n t i l 2 c a l e 1 · , d a r m o n t h s h a v e e l a p s e d f , 0 1 1 1 t h e c a t i o n f o r i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e ( p a r t 2 ) f o r m u n d e r t h i s --· · ---· · ----· ---· --· · -------�
----· · --· --------( i i ) t h e d a t e t h e d e f a u l t o c c u r r e d , a n d ( B . C . R e g . 2 6 ( b ) f o r t h e d e f a u l t r e f e r r e d t o i n s e c t i o n 1 3 ( 1 ) ( b ) o f t h e ( i ) t h e f a m i l y u n i t h a s b e e n i n e l i g i b l e f o r i n c o m e a s s ( i i ) t h e m i n i s t e r i s s a t i s f i e d t h a t t h e a p p l i c a n t o r r e c i p r e a s o n a b l e e f f o rt s t o s e a r c h f o r e m p l o y m e n t . ( B . C . ( 4 ) S e c t i o n 1 3 [ c o n s e q u e n c e s o f n o t m e e t i n g e m p l o y m e f a m i l y u n i t o f a n a p p l i c a n t o r r e c i p i e n t w h o i s i n a n y o f t h ( a ) R e p e a l e d ( B . C . R e g · 1 1 6 / 2 0 0 3 ) ; ( b ) s o l e a p p l i c a n t s o r s o l e r e c i p i e n t s w h o h a v e a t l e a s t ( i ) h a s n o t r e a c h e d 3 y e a r s o f a g e , o r ( i i ) h a s a p h y s i c a l o r m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n t h a t i n t h e m r e c i p i e n t f r o m l e a v i n g h o m e f o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f e m ( c ) R e p e a l e d ( B . C . R e g . 4 8 / 2 0 1 0 ) : ( d ) s o l e a p p l i c a n t s o r s o l e r e c i p i e n t s w h o h a v e a f o s t e r ( i ) h a s n o t r e a c h e d 3 y e a r s o f a g e , o r ( i i ) h a s a p h y s i c a l o r m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n t h a t , i n t 1 1 e m i r e c i p i e n t f r o m l e a v i n g h o r n e f o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f e m ( e ) p e r s o n s w h o r e c e i v e a c c o m m o d a t i o n a n d c a r e i n a ( f ) a p p l i c a n t s o r r e c i p i e n t s a d m i t t e d t o h o s p i t a l b e c a u s e ( g ) p e r s o n s w h o r e s i d e w i t h a n d c a r e f o r a s p o u s e w h o m i n i s t e r ' s o p i n i o n , p r e c l u d e s t h e p e r s o n f r o m l e a v i n g h ( 1 7 ) a p p l i c a n t s o r r e c i p i e n t s i n a f a m i l y u n i t t h a t i n c l u d e s ( i ) R e p e a l e d . ( B . C . H e g . 1 6 0 / 2 0 0 4 ) ( i i ) p e r s o n s w h o a r e p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n a t r e a t m e n t o r r e p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h a t p r o g r a m , i n t h e m i n i s t e r ' s o p i n i o c o n t i n u e i n e m p l o y m e n t , ( i i i ) p e r s o n s w h o h a v e s e p a r a t e d f r o m a n a b u s i v e s t h e m i n i s t e r ' s o p i n i o n , t h e a b u s e o r t h e s e p a r o t i o n i n c o n t i n u e i n e m p l o y m e n t , ( i v ) p e r s o n s n o t d e s c r i b e d i n s e c t i o n 7 ( 2 ) [ c i t i z e n s h ( v ) p e r s o n s w h o h a v e p e r s i s t e n t m u l t i p l e b a r r i e r s l o ( v i ) p e r s o n s w h o h a v e r e a c h e d 6 5 y e a r s o f a g e ; ( 8 . C ( i ) R e p e a l e d ( B . C . R e g . 4 8 / 2 0 1 0 ) ; U ) s o l e a p p l i c a n t s o r s o l e r e c i p i e n t s w h o a r e p r o v i d i n g [ a g r e e m e n t s w i t h c / J il c / ' s / ; i n a n d o t h e r s ] o f t h e C h i l d , F ( i ) h a s n o t r e a c h e d 3 y e a r s o f a g e , o r ( i i ) h a s a p h y s i c a l o r m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n t h a t , i n t h e m i r e c i p i e n t f r o m l e a v i n g h o m e f o r t h e p u r p o , ; e s o f e m p ( k ) s o l e a p p l i c a n t s o r s o l e r e c i p i e n t s w h o a r e p m v i d i n g ( g ) ( i i ) [ o t h e r p o w e r s a n c / d u t i e s o f c l i r e c: t o r s ] o f t h e C h i l ( i ) h a s n o t r e a c h e d 3 y e a r s o t a i , e , o r ( i i ) h a s a p h y s i c a l o r m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n t h ci t , i n t h e m i n r e c i p i e n t f r o m l e a v i n g h o m e f o r t 1 1 e p u r p o s e s o f e m p I n r e f e r e n c e t o s e c t i o n 9 E A A , t h e m i n i s t r y ' s p o s i t i o n i s t h t i m e s w i t h o u t s u c c e s s ; t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t r J i c l n o t r e s p o n d w o r k s h o p s i n O c t o b e r 2 0 1 3 a n d N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 3 w i t h o u t a p p e l l a n t h a d n o c o n t a c t w i t h t h e c o n t r a c t o r b e t w e e n N o c o n t a c t e d t h e m i n i s t r y t o i n q u i r e a b o u t h i s a s s i s t a n c e c h e m i n i s t r y o f f i c e o n J a n u a r y "' 1 2 2 , 2 0 4 , t h e E A W s p o k e w i t h n o t r e s i:i _ o 1 1 5 ft CJ t h e c o n t r a c t o r ' n m e s s a g � s a n c ! L o u 1 1 i s � . i n 9 E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 C • / O G / 0 1 )--� 3 / 2 0 0 2 ) A c t , u n t i l t h e l a t e r o f t h e f o l l o w i n g h a s o c c u r r e d : i s t a n c e f o r o n e c a l e n d a r m o n t h ; i e n t w h o c o m m i t t e d t h e d e f a u l t i s d e m o n s t r a t i n g R e g . 2 6 3 / 2 0 0 2 ) n t r e / a / e e l o b l i g a t i o n s ] o f t h e A c t d o e s n o t a p p l y t o a e f o l l o w i n g c a t e g o r i e s : o n e d e p e n d e n t c h i l d w h o i n i s t e r ' s o p i n i o n , p r e c l u d e s t h e s o l e a p p l i c a n t o r p l o y m e n t ; c h i l d w h o n i s t e r ' s o p i n i o n , p r e c l u d e s t h e s o l e a p p l i c a n t o r p l o y m e n t ; s p e c i a l c a r e f a c i l i t y o r p r i v a t e h o s p i t a l ; t h e y r e q u i r e e x t e n d e d c a r e ; h a s a p h y s i c a l o r m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n t h a t , i n t h e o m e f o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f e m p l o y m e n t ; o n l y a p p l i c a n t s o r r e c i p i e n t s w h o a r e h a b i l i t a t i o n p r o g r a m a p p r o v e d b y t h e m i n i s t e r , i f t h e i r n , i n t e r f e r e s w i t h t h e i r a b i l i t y t o s e a r c h f o r , a c c e p t o r p o u s e o r r e l a t i v e w i t h i n t h e p r e v i o u s 6 m o n t h s , i f , i n t e r f e r e s w i t h t h e i r a b i l i t y t o s e a r c h f o r , a c c e p t o r i p r e q u i r e m e n t s ] , o r e m p l o y m e n t ; . H e g . 1 1 6 / 2 0 0 3 ) c a : · e u n d e r a n a g r e e m e n t r · e f e r r e d t o i n s e c t i o n 8 a m i l y a n d C o m r n u n i t y S e r v i c e A c t f o r a c h i l d w h o n i s t e r · ' s o p i n i o n , p r e c l u d e s t h e s o l e a p p l i c a n t o r l o y m e n t ; ( B . C . R e g . 3 3 1 / 2 0 0 3 ) c a r e u n d e r a n a g r e e m e n t r e f e r r e d t o i n s e c t i o n 9 3 ( 1 ) e / , F a m i l y a n c l C o m m u n i t y S e r v i c e A c t f o r a c h i l d w h o i s t e r ' s o p i n i o n , p r e c l u c l e s t h e s o l e a p p l i c a n t o r l o y m , o n t . ( B . C . R e g . 3 3 1 / 2 0 0 3 ) a t t h e c o n t rn c t o r t r i e d t o c o n t a c t t h e a p p e l l a n t s e v e r a l t o t h e t e l e p h o n e m e s s a n e s a n d m i s s e d s c h e d u l e d n o t i f y i n g t h e c o n t a c t o r . T h e m i n i s t r y a r g u e d t h e v e m b e r 2 8 t h 2 0 1 4 a n d J a n u a r y 2 2 n d 2 0 1 4 a n d o n l y q u e . T h e m i n i s t r y a r g u e d t h a t o n t h i s v i s i t t o t h e t l 1 e a p p e l l a n t , s e e k i n g a n e x p l a n a t i o n o n w h y h e d i d s c h e d u l e d w o r k s l · 1 0 12 s , � n 1 e � r ri i 11 i s t r y s t a t e d t h e � _ ___,
appellant informed the EAW that he had attended a funeral in friend's community; was caring for a friend's cat and had spent two weeks with his parent,, during Christmas. The ministry agued the appellant's reasons for non-compliance with his EP should not be deemed to be reasonable. The ministry argued that the appellant could have been doing his job search responsibilities while in the other community and while visiting his parents but he chose not to; and babysitting a cat is not a reasonable explanation either. The ministry further argued that neither the appellant nor his family physician identified any restrictions that would affect his employability. The ministry argued the appellant made no contact with the contractor or the ministry between November 28 th , 2013 and January 22 ° ', 20·14 and it is his r, sponsibili!y to inform the contractor or the ministry if he cannot make any appointments or for any reason is not able to meet the obligations set out in his EP. The appellant argued that he does not have a landline or a cell phone that would provide him with reasonable access to the contractor's messages or to communicate with the contractor. The appellant argued that he was utilizing his grandparent's phone line for contact and messages but if they were not home he didn't have access to their home and didn't get the messages. The appellant argued that he tried to comply with his EP by doing his job searches but lost his initial job search book and then tried to complete his job search record from memory. The appellant also argued that he felt it was important to assist his friend's with their medical emergency; to care for his friend's cat ancl to vi,;it his parents at Christmas lime. The obligations in the EP require that the appell,mt will: ·1) attend and participate in the program as directed by the contractor; 2) work with the contractor to address any issues that may impact on his employability and will complete all tasks assigned; 3) notify the contractor if I am unable to attend a session, or when I start or end my employment. The evidence is that the contractor made severnl alternpts to contact the appellant between November 28'", 2013 and December 31 st , 2013 but there was 110 response from the appellant and he did not attend the workshops. The appellant testified he was away in December 2013, except when he was babysitting a friend's cat, and did not advise the contractor that he would not be available, an obligation set out in his EP. The appellant told the panel that in early Decembe1· he was assisting a friend with a medical emergency and he told the EAW he was attending a funeral. The panel does not accept the appellant's argument that he made reasonable efforts to cornpl l with his EP when he did not have any contact with the contractor betw e en Novemll,11· 28 th and January 14 1 , 2014 because he did not have a dedicated telephone line and was caring for his friend'i; cat and visiting his parents. The panel finds there is a conflict in the evidence regarding the reason for tile appellant's visit to his friend's community; initially he told the EAW that he was a\tonrJino a funeral and his evidence before the panel was that he was assisting friends with a medical ernerg1'ncy. The panel finds the appellant's explanation for not being available to the contractor between November 28 th , 2013 and January14th, 2014 is not reasonable and therefore he did not demonstratG that he made reasonable efforts to participate in his EP. The appellant's physician, in the ivledical f.'rnployab1lity-ftepo1t, stated he was no! GVta.rn of any medical restrictions that would affect the appellant's employability and there is IH) other medical evidence before the panel. The panel fi,1cls that the minif,1ry's decision that apµella,1t did not comply ""ith hir; l':P by demonstrating reasonabl e efforts to participate in his ernployrrwnt. . relateci program or c2ased, to participate in the program because of medical reasons was reasonable. While the ministry's reconsicieration ,focision rekrnnces section 29 of the EAi�. the appellant has been denied income assistance for failinn to comply with the conditions of his employment plan for failing to mal<e reasonable efforts to participatein his en1oloyment pronrc1n1 � aiicLfcirnol having ,:;,iasedto participate i�n� t=h � e � � EAA T003(10/06/01)
p r o g r a m d u e t o m e d i c a l r e a s o n s i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h s . 9 c o n s e q u e n c e s r e l a t e d t o a f a i l u r e t o rn e e t t h e e r n p i o y r n e i s n o t a t i s s u e i n t h i s c a s e . T h e p a n e l f i n d s t h a t t h e m i n i s t r y ' s d e c i s i o n t h a t t i l e a p p e o f t h e E M , w a s a r e a s o n a b l e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e l e g i s l a t i o t h e m i n i s t r y ' s d e c i s i o n p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 2 4 ( 1 ) ( b ) E A A � -------� --· -----E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 1 0 6 1 0 1 )o f t h e E A A . S e c t i o n 2 9 o f t h e E A H s e t s o u t t h e n t r e l a t e d o b l i g a t i o n s s e t o u t i n s . 1 3 o f t h e E M w h i c h l l a n t d i d n o t c o m p l y w i t h h i s E P , a s s e t o u t i n s e c t i o n 9 n i n t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f t h e a p p e l l a n t , a n d c o n f i r m s a n d s e c t i o n 2 4 ( 2 ) ( a ) E A A . ----------� --· -------� � ---�
You are being directed to the most recent version of the statute which may not be the version considered at the time of the judgment.