P A R T C D e c i s i o n u n d e r A p p e a l T h e d e c i s i o n u n d e r a p p e a l i s 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 I n n o v a t i o n ( t h e " m i n i s t r y " ) d a t e d J u l y 3 , 2 0 1 4 , w h i c h d M i n i s t r y d e t e r m i n e d t h a t s h e w a s n o n c o m p l i a n t w i t h t h S e c t i o n ( s . ) 9 ( 1 ) a n d ( 4 ) o f t h e E m p l o y m e n t A s s i s t a n c e t h e a p p e l l a n t h a s n o t d e m o n s t r a t e d s h e h a s m a d e a n y e ff h a s a n y m i t i g a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h a t p r e v e n t e d h e r f r o P A R T D R e l e v a n t L e g i s l a t i o n E m p l o y m e n t a n d A s s i s t a n c e A c t ( E A A ) s . 9 ( 1 ) a n d ( 4 ) E M T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )A P P E A L I n o f t h e M i n i s t r y o f S o c i a l D e v e l o p m e n t a n d S o c i a l e n i e d t h e a p p e l l a n t I n c o m e A s s i s t a n c e ( I A ) , a s t h e e c o n d i t i o n s o f h e r e m p l o y m e n t p l a n , ( E P ) , c o n t r a r y t o A c t ( E A A ) . S p e c i f i c a l l y t h e m i n i s t r y d e t e r m i n e d t h a t o r t s 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 e r E P , o r t h a t s h e m c o m p l y i n g w i t h t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f h e r E P .
P A R T E S u m m a r v o f F a c t s T h e m i n i s t r y w a s n o t i n a t t e n d a n c e a t t h e h e a r i n g . A f t e r c o n p r o c e e d e d p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 8 6 ( b ) o f t h e E m p l o y m e n t a n d A s u m m a r y o f t h e e v i d e n c e b e fo r e t h e M i n i s t r y a t t h e t 1 . A c o p y o f t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s e m p l o y m e n t p l a n ( E P ) a p p e l l a n t ' s E P i n c l u d e d t h e fo l l o w i n g c o m p o n e n P l a n C o n d i t i o n s C o n d i t i o n s o f t h e E P r e q u i r e t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t p a r t i c i p a b y t h e m i n i s t r y o r E m p l o y m e n t P r o g r a m s o f B r i t i s h C o ( f) o f h e r E P . S e c t i o n 3 ( a ) s e t s a s t a r t d a t e o f A p r i l 1 6 , 2 0 1 4 ; ( b ) l i s t s t h e n a m e o f t h e c o n t r a c t o r a n d a t e l e p h o n e n u m b e r ; ( d ) t h e a p p e l l a n t w i l l p a r t i c i p a t e i n E P B C p r o g r a m m i n g r e g m u s t a l s o w o r k w i t h t h e E P B C c o n t r a c t o r t o a d d r e s s a n c o m p l e t e a l l t a s k s a s s i g n e d i n c l u d i n g a n y a c t i v i t i e s t h a t t o c o n t a c t t h e c o n t r a c t o r a t t h e t e l e p h o n e n u m b e r l i s t e d o r w h e n s h e s t a r t s o r e n d s e m p l o y m e n t . I f t h e a p p e l l a n t u n d e r s t a n d s t h a t s h e w i l l b e i n e l i g i b l e fo r I A u n d e r t h e E r e p o r t a l l i n c o m e , a n d r e p o r t a n y c h a n g e s t o t h e m i n i s t r r e q u i r e d ; ( e ) d a t e r e f e r r e d A p r i l 1 6 , 2 0 1 4 ; ( f ) r e p o r t i n g r S e c t i o n 5 : C o m p l i a n c e w i t h E P a n d A c t i o n s f o r N o n C T o b e e l i g i b l e f o r 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 r e c i p i e n t a n E P , a n d c o m p l y w i t h t h e c o n d i t i o n s s e t o u t i n t h e E P e m p l o y m e n t , o r b ) b e c o m e m o r e e m p l o y a b l e . A s s i s t a n c d e m o n s t r a t e r e a s o n a b l e e f fo r t s t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n a p r o g r a c e a s e s e x c e p t fo r m e d i c a l r e a s o n s , t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e p S e c t i o n 6 : A c k n o w l e d g m e n t s T h e a p p e l l a n t a c k n o w l e d g e s t h a t i t i s a c o n d i t i o n o f e l i g c o n d i t i o n s s e t o u t i n h e r E P , i n c l u d i n g a n y c o n d i t i o n s t o T h e a p p e l l a n t u n d e r s t a n d s t h a t m i n i s t r y c o n t r a c t o r s h a v e u n d e r s t a n d s t h a t s h e m a y b e r e q u i r e d t o p r o v i d e v e r i f i c a i n c l u d i n g p r o o f o f a c t i v e w o r k s e a r c h a n d / o r r e c o r d s o f p r o g r a m a s r e q u i r e d b y t h e m i n i s t r y . T h e a p p e l l a n t f u r t h e r a g r e e s t h a t s h e a c k n o w l e d g e s a n d e m p l o y m e n t r e l a t e d p r o g r a m t h a t s h e m u s t p a r t i c i p a t e f u r e q u i r e d b y t h e m i n i s t r y c o n t r a c t o r . I n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e E A A t h e a p p e l l n o t 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 e r E P , t h e a s s i s t a n c e a p p e l l a n t a l s o a c k n o w l e d g e s t h a t s h e u n d e r s t a n d s t h a t p a 2 . A c o p y o f t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s R e q u e s t f o r R e c o n s i d e r I n S e c t i o n 3 o f t h e R e q u e s t f o r R e c o n s i d e r a t i o n t h e a p p e E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )A P P E A L · I f i r m i n g t h a t t h e m i n i s t r y w e r e d u l y n o t i f i e d , t h e h e a r i n g A s s i s t a n c e R e g u l a t i o n . i m e o f t h e r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n i s a s f o l l o w s : s i g n e d b y t h e A p p e l l a n t o n A p r i l l 6 , 2 0 1 4 . T h e t s : t e f u l l y t o t h e b e s t o f h e r a b i l i t y i n t h e a c t i v i t i e s r e q u i r e d l u m b i a ( E P B C ) c o n t r a c t o r a s s e t o u t i n s e c t i o n s 3 ( a ) t o t h e n a m e o f t h e P r o g r a m / S e r v i c e a s E P B C ; ( c ) p r o v i d e s s t a t e s t h a t a s a c o n d i t i o n o f c o n t i n u e d e l i g i b i l i t y f o r I A u l a r l y a n d a s d i r e c t e d b y t h e E P B C c o n t r a c t o r . S h e y i s s u e s t h a t m a y i m p a c t h e r e m p l o y a b i l i t y a n d w i l l m a y b e s e t o u t i n a n a c t i o n p l a n . T h e a p p e l l a n t a g r e e d i n p a r t ( c ) o f h e r E P i f s h e i s u n a b l e t o a t t e n d a s e s s i o n f a i l s 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 e r E P s h e A A . T h e a p p e l l a n t a l s o u n d e r s t a n d s t h a t s h e m u s t y a n d a t t e n d a l l m i n i s t r y r e v i e w a p p o i n t m e n t s a s e q u i r e m e n t s a s p e r p r o g r a m r e q u i r e m e n t s . o m p l i a n c e i n a f a m i l y u n i t m u s t , w h e n r e q u i r e d t o d o s o , e n t e r i n t o . T h e p u r p o s e o f a n E P i s t o h e l p a p e r s o n a ) f i n d e w i l l b e d i s c o n t i n u e d i f a p e r s o n a ) f a i l s t o m i n w h i c h h e o r s h e i s r e q u i r e d t o p a i t i c i p a t e o r b ) r o g r a m . i b i l i t y t h a t s h e s i g n h e r E P a n d t h a t s h e c o m p l y w i t h t h e 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 r a m . t h e a b i l i t y t o r e p o r t b a c k o n h e r a c t i v i t i e s . S h e a l s o t i o n o f h e r c o m p l i a n c e w i t h t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f h e r E P , a t t e n d a n c e o r p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n a n e m p l o y m e n t r e l a t e d u n d e r s t a n d s t h a t , i f t h e m i n i s t r y r e fe r s h e r t o a n l l y a n d t o t h e b e s t o f h e r a b i l i t y i n t h e a c t i v i t i e s a n t a c k n o w l e d g e s t h a t s h e u n d e r s t a n d s t h a t i f s h e d o e s i s s u e d t o h e r o r h e r f a m i l y w i l l b e d i s c o n t i n u e d . T h e r t i c i p a t i o n i n a n E P i s n o t o p e n t o a p p e a l . a t i o n s i g n e d b y t h e a p p e l l a n t J u l y 2 , 2 0 1 4 . l l a n t i s a s k e d t o p r o v i d e h e r r e a s o n f o r m a k i n g h e r
r e q u e s t . I n t h i s s e c t i o n t h e a p p e l l a n t r e p o r t e d t h a t s h e h a l s o l o o k i n g a f t e r a 9 y e a r o l d r e l a t i v e . S h e i s a s i n g l e m u n a b l e t o g e t a r i d e t o w o r k . T h e a p p e l l a n t c o n c l u d e s b s c h o o l , h a s a d o c t o r ' s a p p o i n t m e n t t o s e e i f s h e i s u n d e r a p p e l l a n t r e q u e s t e d r e i n s t a t e m e n t o f h e r a s s i s t a n c e a s h 3 . A c o p y o f a n o n c o m p l i a n c e l e t t e r s e n t t o t h e a p t o c o n t a c t E P B C fo r a n a p p o i n t m e n t a n d t h a t h e w i t h E P B C . 4 . A c o p y o f a n o n c o m p l i a n c e l e t t e r s e n t t o t h e a p h e r t h a t s h e i s n o l o n g e r e l i g i b l e fo r i n c o m e a s s i 5 . M i n i s t r y r e c o r d s r e p o r t a m o n g o t h e r t h i n g s t h e f • T h e a p p e l l a n t i s a s o l e e m p l o y a b l e r e c i p i • O n A p r i l 1 6 , 2 0 1 4 , t h e a p p e l l a n t e n t e r e d • O n A p r i l 2 2 , 2 0 1 4 , t h e a p p e l l a n t w a s s c h A p r i l 2 9 , 2 0 1 4 , a n d t w o a s s e s s m e n t a p p o • T h e a p p e l l a n t f a i l e d t o a t t e n d o r i e n t a t i o n c o n t a c t e i t h e r t h e m i n i s t 1 y o r E P B C t o r e • E P B C a t t e m p t e d t o c o n t a c t t h e a p p e l l a n t • O n M a y 1 , 2 0 1 4 , t h e m i n i s t r y s e n t t h e a p 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 e r E P a n d a p p o i n t m e n t . S h e w a s a l s o a d v i s e d t h a t h w o r k i r i g w i t h E P B C . • O n M a y 2 , 2 0 1 4 , E P B C r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t a n d m a i l e d a l e t t e r t o h e r a d v i s i h e r E P B C f i l e w o u l d b e c l o s e d . • O n M a y 1 3 , 2 0 1 4 , E P B C r e p o r t e d t h a t t h • O n M a y 1 4 , 2 0 1 4 , t h e m i n i s t r y d i s c u s s e d a n d a d v i s e d t h e a p p e l l a n t i n p e r s o n t o r e c • O n J u n e 1 2 , 2 0 1 4 , t h e m i n i s t r y s e n t t h e a f o r a s s i s t a n c e b e c a u s e s h e f a i l e d t o c o m p f a i l e d t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n e m p l o y m e n t p r o g r • O n J u n e 2 3 , 2 0 1 4 , E P B C r e p o r t e d t h e a p p 2 0 1 4 , a n d a s s e s s m e n t a p p o i n t m e n t s f o r J u • O n J u l y 2 , 2 0 1 4 E P B C r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e a I n t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s N o t i c e o f A p p e a l d a t e d J u l y 1 5 , 2 0 1 4 , 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 , a n d p r i o r t o t h e h e a r i n g , s a n e v i c t i o n n o t i c e a n d i s a s i n g l e m o t h e r w i t h o n e c h i l d . a p p e l l a n t ' s n o t i c e o f a p p e a l s h e f u r t h e r r e p o r t s t h a t o n M o f h e r f u rn i t u r e , a n d m o v e d i n w i t h h e r f a t h e r i n a n o t h e r r e s u l t , s h e m o v e d t o a n o t h e r c i t v w h e r e s h e l i v e d w i t h f a E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )I A P P E A l a s a f i v e y e a r o l d c h i l d w h o i s n o t i n s c h o o l a n d s h e i s o t h e r t r y i n g t o l o o k fo r a j o b . S h e f o u n d a j o b b u t w a s y r e p o r t i n g t h a t s h e f i n a l l y g o t h e r c h i l d i n t o s u m m e r s t r e s s o r d e p r e s s e d a n d h a s b e e n a t t e n d i n g E P B C . T h e e r r e n t i s c u r r e n t l y cl u e . p e l l a n t b y t h e m i n i s t r y d a t e d M a y 1 , 2 0 1 4 , a d v i s i n g h e r r a s s i s t a n c e w o u l d b e h e l d f o r p r o o f s h e w a s w o r k i n g p e l l a n t b y t h e m i n i s t 1 y d a t e d J u n e 1 2 , 2 0 1 4 , i n f o r m i n g s t a n c e a n d i n fo r m i n g h e r o f h e r r i g h t t o R e c o n s i d e r a t i o n . o l l o w i n g : e n t w i t h o n e d e p e n d e n t c h i l d o v e r t h r e e y e a r s o f a g e . i n t o a n E P w i t h c o n d i t i o n s e d u l e d t o m e e t w i t h E P B C f o r a n o r i e n t a t i o n s e s s i o n o n i n t m e n t s o n M a y 1 s t a n d 2 n d , 2 0 1 4 . a p p o i n t m e n t w i t h E P B C o n A p r i l 2 9 , 2 0 1 4 , a n d d i d n o t s c h e d u l e . t o r e s c h e d u l e t h e a p p o i n t m e n t s . p e l l a n t a l e t t e r a d v i s i n g h e r t h a t s h e h a d f a i l e d t o s h e w a s t o l d t o c o n t a c t E P B C a n d s e t u p a n e r a s s i s t a n c e w o u l d b e h e l d fo r p r o o f t h a t s h e w a s y w e r e n o t s u c c e s s f u l i n t h e i r a t t e m p t s t o c o n t a c t t h e n g t h a t i f t h e y h a d n o t h e a r d f r o m h e r b y M a y 9 , 2 0 1 4 , e l e t t e r t h e y s e n t t h e a p p e l l a n t w a s r e t u rn e d . w i t h t h e a p p e l l a n t t h e r e t u r n o f t h e m a i l f r o m E P B C o n n e c t w i t h E P B C b y M a y 2 8 , 2 0 1 4 . p p e l l a n t a l e t t e r a d v i s i n g h e r t h a t s h e w a s n o t e l i g i b l e l y w i t h t h e a c t i v i t i e s s e t o u t i n h e r E P b e c a u s e s h e a m m i n g w i t h E P B C . e l l a n t r e s c h e d u l e d h e r o r i e n t a t i o n s e s s i o n f o r J u l y 2 , l y 3 a n d 4 , 2 0 1 4 . p p e l l a n t f a i l e d t o a t t e n d t h e o r i e n t a t i o n s e s s i o n . s u b m i t t e d t o t h e T r i b u n a l o f fi c e b y t h e a p p e l l a n t a f t e r h e r e p o r t s t h a t s h e i s i n n e e d o f a s s i s t a n c e f o r r e n t , h a s I n a l e t t e r d a t e d J u l y 1 1 , 2 0 1 4 , a c c o m p a n y i n g t h e a r c h 1 0 , 2 0 1 4 , s h e f l e d a n a b u s i v e r e l a t i o n s h i p , l o s t a l l c i t y w h e r e s h e w a s u n a b l e t o fi n d a n e w h o m e . A s a m i l y u n t i l s h e w a s a b l e t o f i n d a n l a c e fo r h e r s e l f a n d
h e r c h i l d t o l i v e . S h e w a s t h e n r e fe r r e d t o E P B C b y t h e w o r k a n d h a d n o i d e a s h e h a d t o s e e a c a s e m a n a g e r . B d e n i e d a s s i s t a n c e f o r J u l y . S h e f u r t h e r r e p o r t s t h a t s h e i d e p r e s s i o n . S h e r e a l l y n e e d s h e l p a n d i s w a i t i n g t o s e e g o t l u · o u g h t h i s a g a i n . A t t h e h e a r i n g t h e a p p e l l a n t s u b m i t t e d a b i o g r a p h y w h i c r e s u m e a n d o t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g h e r p e r s o n a l h i b e i n s u p p o r t o f h e r a r g u m e n t . T h e a p p e l l a n t t o l d t h e p a n e l s h e h a d t r i e d t o f i n d a n a d v u n s u c c e s s f u l . S h e t h e n s t o o d b y t h e r e c o r d a d d i n g t h a t t h a t h e r m a i l h a d n o t b e e n fo r w a r d e d t o h e r b y h e r c o u s t o l d t h e p a n e l t h a t s h e w a s n o w a t t e n d i n g E P B C a s r e q u t h e m i n i s t r y t h a t s h e w a s n o w i n c o m p l i a n c e . N o o t h e r T h e p a n e l d e t e r m i n e d t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s o r a l t e s t i m o n y w a s s u p p o r t o f t h e r e c o r d s b e fo r e t h e m i n i s t e r a t r e c o n s i d e r a c l a r i f y t h e d a t e o f h e r m o v e t o h e r c u r r e n t r e s i d e n c e a n d F i n d i n g s o f F a c t s : • T h e a p p e l l a n t i s a s i n g l e e m p l o y a b l e r e c i p i e n t w • O n A p r i l 1 6 , 2 0 1 4 , t h e a p p e l l a n t e n t e r e d i n t o a n • T h e a p p e l l a n t f a i l e d t o a t t e n d h e r o r i e n t a t i o n s e s s e i t h e r t h e m i n i s t r y o r E P B C t o r e s c h e d u l e a n e w • O n M a y 2 , 2 0 1 4 , E P B C r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e y w e r e a n d m a i l e d a l e t t e r w h i c h w a s r e t u rn e d t o t h e m M • O n M a y 1 4 , 2 0 1 4 , t h e m i n i s t r y d i s c u s s e d w i t h t h a d v i s e d h e r i n p e r s o n t o r e c o n n e c t w i t h E P B C b y • O n J u n e 1 2 , 2 0 1 4 , t h e m i n i s t r y s e n t t h e a p p e l l a n t a s s i s t a n c e b e c a u s e s h e f a i l e d t o c o m p l y w i t h t h e p a r t i c i p a t e i n e m p l o y m e n t p r o g r a m m i n g w i t h E P • O n J u n e 2 3 , 2 0 1 4 , E P B C r e p o r t e d t h e a p p e l l a n t r a s s e s s m e n t a p p o i n t m e n t s fo r J u l y 3 a n d 4 , 2 0 1 4 . • O n J u l y 2 , 2 0 1 4 , E P B C r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )A P P E A L I m i n i s t r y a n d w a s g o i n g t h e r e e v e r y d a y t o l o o k fo r y t h e t i m e s h e f o u n d o u t i t w a s t o o l a t e a n d s h e w a s s o n t h e v e r g e o f b e i n g e v i c t e d a n d i s g o i n g t h r o u g h a a c o u n c i l o r t o s e e k t r e a t m e n t s o s h e w i l l n e v e r h a v e t o h i n c l u d e d r e f e r e n c e s a t t e s t i n g t o h e r g o o d c h a r a c t e r , a s t o r y . T h e p a n e l f i n d s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s s u b m i s s i o n t o o c a t e t o a s s i s t h e r w i t h h e r a p p e a l b u t h a d b e e n s h e h a d m o v e d i n t o a n e w r e s i d e n c e J u n e 1 , 2 0 1 4 , a n d i n w i t h w h o m s h e h a d b e e n l i v i n g . T h e a p p e l l a n t a l s o i r e d , a n d s h e w a s t o l d b y E P B C t h a t t h e y w o u l d n o t i f y e v i d e n c e w a s s u b m i t t e d . a d m i s s i b l e u n d e r s . 2 2 ( 4 ) o f t h e E A A a s i t w a s i n t i o n a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y b e c a u s e i t h e l p e d t h e p a n e l t o h e r r e p o r t e d s t a t u s w i t h E P B C . i t h o n e d e p e n d e n t c h i l d o v e r t h e a g e o f 3 . E P w i t h c o n d i t i o n s . i o n w i t h E P B C A p r i l 2 9 , 2 0 1 4 , a n d fa i l e d t o c o n t a c t s e t o f a p p o i n t m e n t s . n o t s u c c e s s f u l i n t h e i r a t t e m p t s t o c o n t a c t t h e a p p e l l a n t a y 1 3 , 2 0 1 4 . e a p p e l l a n t t h e r e t u r n o f t h e m a i l f r o m E P B C a n d M a y 2 8 , 2 0 1 4 . a l e t t e r a d v i s i n g h e r t h a t s h e w a s n o t e l i g i b l e f o r a c t i v i t i e s s e t o u t i n h e r E P a n d b e c a u s e s h e fa i l e d t o B C . e s c h e d u l e d h e r o r i e n t a t i o n s e s s i o n f o r J u l y 2 , 2 0 1 4 , a n d t fa i l e d t o a t t e n d t h e o r i e n t a t i o n s e s s i o n .
I APPEAi PART F -Reasons for Panel Decision The issue to be determined is whether the Ministry reasonably denied the Appellant IA, as the Ministry determined that she was non-compliant with the conditions of her EP, contrary to Sec. 9 of the Employment Assistance Act. Specifically the ministry determined that the appellant has not demonstrated she has made any efforts to comply with the conditions of her EP, or that she has any mitigating circumstances that prevented her from complying with the conditions of her EP. Employment and Assistance Act Employment plan 9 ( I) For a family unit to be eligible for income assistance or hardship assistance, each applicant or recipient in the family unit, when required to do so by the 111iniste1; must (a) enter into an employment plan, and (b) comply with the conditions in the employment plan. (4) If an employment plan includes a condition requiring an applicant, a recipient or a dependent youth to participate in a specific employment-related program, that condition is not met if the person (a)fails to demonstrate reasonable efforts to participate in the program, or (b) ceases, except for medical reasons, to participate in the program. The appellant's position is that she was unable to keep her appointments with EPBC because she didn't have daycare for her child and didn't understand the conditions of her EP. The ministry's position is that the appellant was found to be non-compliant with the conditions of her EP, contrary to s. 9(1) and (4) ofEAA and is therefore ineligible to receive IA. A1·gument In Section 3 of the appellant's Request for Reconsideration dated July 2, 2014, and in her Notice of Appeal dated July 15, 2014, and accompanying letter of July 11, 2014, the appellant argued that she is a single mother with a child over the age of 3 and was unable to keep her first set of appointments with EPBC because she did not have daycare. After she was referred to EPBC by the ministry she argued that she went there every day to look for work and had no idea she had to see a case manager. By the time she found out it was too late and she was denied assistance for July. She further argued that she is going through a depression, needs assistance for rent and has an eviction notice. At the hearing the appellant also argued that the reason her mail from EPBC was returned was because she had moved into a new residence June 1, 2014, and that her mail had not been forwarded to her by her cousin with whom she had been living. The appellant argued that although she did sign her EP, she did not read or understand what she was agreeing to. The appellant argued that since missing her July 2, 2014, orientation appointment with EPBC, she has been attending appointments as required, and she was told by EPBC that they would notify the ministry that she was now in compliance. The ministry argued in their Reconsideration Decision dated July 3, 2014, that by signing her EP the appellant confirmed that she had read, understood and agreed to the conditions specified in the plan. She agreed to participate and complete all tasks assigned to her by EPBC and as of July 2, 20014, had failed to attend either of two scheduled orientation sessions, the fi r st on April 29, 2014, and the second on July 2, 2014, and two follow up assessment annointments scheduled for May l st and 2, 2014. The annellant was aware of the consequences EMT 003(10/06/01)
o f n o t c o m p l y i n g w i t h t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f h e r E P a n d a l t h fa i l e d t o c o n t a c t E P B C t o m a k e o t h e r a r r a n g e m e n t s t o r c h i l d c a r e . I n a d d i t i o n , t h e m i n i s t r y a l s o a r g u e d t h a t i t s t o f o l l o w t h r o u g h w i t h h e r p l a n a n d s h e f a i l e d t o c o n t a c c o n c l u s i o n , t h e m i n i s t r y a r g u e d t h a t e v e n t h o u g h t h e a p t o s e e i f s h e i s u n d e r s t r e s s o r d e p r e s s e d , s h e h a s n o t s u s u ff e r s f r o m a n y m e d i c a l i s s u e s t h a t w o u l d i m p a c t h e r a r e a s o n s t h e m i n i s t r y a r g u e d t h a t a s t h e a p p e l l a n t d o e s n o a n d ( 4 ) o f E A A a n d i s t h e r e f o r e n o t e l i g i b l e fo r a s s i s t a n P a n e l F i n d i n g s U n d e r E A A s e c t i o n 9 ( 1 ) , t o b e e l i g i b l e f o r I A , t h e r e c i p i n t o a n e m p l o y m e n t p l a n , a n d c o m p l y w i t h t h e c o n d i t i o 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 i r i n g t h e r e c i p r o g 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 f a i l s t o d p r o g r a m , o r c e a s e s , e x c e p t fo r m e d i c a l r e a s o n s , t o p a r t i c T h e p a n e l f i n d s t h a t o n A p r i l 1 6 , 2 0 1 4 , t h e a p p e l l a n t e n t r e q u i r e d fo r c o n t i n u e d e l i g i b i l i t y f o r I A i s t h a t s h e p a r t i c b y t h e E P B C c o n t r a c t o r . A n o t h e r c o n d i t i o n i s t h a t s h e c p a r t ( c ) o f h e r E P i f s h e i s u n a b l e t o a t t e n d a s e s s i o n o r w f a i l s 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 e r E P s h e u n d e r s A l t h o u g h t h e a p p e l l a n t a r g u e d a t t h e h e a r i n g t h a t s h e d i d p a n e l f i n d s t h a t b y s i g n i n g h e r E P t h e a p p e l l a n t c o n f i r m c o n d i t i o n s s p e c i f i e d i n t h e p l a n a n d t h e r e fo r e t h e m i n i s t F u r t h e r m o r 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 r e a s o n a b l c o n d i t i o n s o f h e r E P b y f a i l i n g t o a t t e n d e i t h e r o f t w o s c a n d t h e s e c o n d o n J u l y 2 , 2 0 1 4 , a n d t w o s c h e d u l e d a s s e s c a l l E P B C t o r e s c h e d u l e . T h e p a n e l f u r t h e r f i n d s t h a t t h o f t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f n o t c o m p l y i n g w i t h t h e c o n d i t i o n f r o m t h e m i n i s t r y i n a l e t t e r d a t e d M a y 1 , 2 0 1 4 , a n d i n a r e t u r n e d t o t h e m M a y 1 3 , 2 0 1 4 . T h e a p p e l l a n t w a s a l s o E P d u r i n g a n i n p e r s o n c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h t h e m i n i s t r y o h e a r i n g t h a t t h e r e a s o n t h e l e t t e r f r o m E P B C w a s r e t u r n e h e r n e w a d d r e s s w h e n s h e m o v e d J u n e 1 , 2 0 1 4 , t h e p a n e s h o u l d h a v e r e c e i v e d t h i s l e t t e r a s i t w a s r e t u rn e d t o E P B m o v e . T h e p a n e l f u r t h e r f i n d s t h a t a l t h o u g h t h e a p p e l l a n t a r g u e o r i e n t a t i o n s e s s i o n w a s b e c a u s e s h e h a d n o c h i l d c a r e , t h i m a d e i n h e r N o t i c e o f a p p e a l r e g a r d i n g h e r d a i l y a t t e n d a r e q u i r e d t o s e e a c a s e m a n a g e r . F u r t h e r m o r e , m i n i s t r y r e r e q u i r e d i n h e r E P t o d i s c u s s h e r n e e d fo r c h i l d c a r e , a n d t o r e s c h e d u l e h e r w o r k s h o p s . F o r t h e s e r e a s o n s t h e p a n e l fi n d s t h e m i n i s t r y r e a s o n a b l y c o n d i t i o n s o f h e r E P a n d fa i l e d t o m a k e a r e a s o n a b l e e f fo E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )A P P E A L I o u g h s h e a d v i s e s t h a t s h e d i d n o t h a v e c h i l d c a r e , s h e e s c h e d u l e h e r w o r k s h o p s w h e n s h e d i d n o t h a v e a n y t a t e s o n t h e E P t o c o n t a c t t h e m i n i s t r y i f s h e w a s u n a b l e t t h e m i n i s t r y r e g a r d i n g i s s u e s w i t h c h i l d c a r e . I n p e l l a n t h a s a d v i s e d t h a t s h e h a s a d o c t o r ' s a p p o i n t m e n t b m i t t e d a n y m e d i c a l d o c u m e n t a t i o n t h a t i n d i c a t e s s h e b i l i t y t o a t t e n d e m p l o y m e n t p r o g r a m m i n g . F o r t h e s e t m e e t t h e l e g i s l a t e d c r i t e r i a s e t o u t a b o v e i n t o s . 9 ( 1 ) c e . i e n t , w h e n r e q u i r e d t o d o s o b y t h e m i n i s t e r , m u s t e n t e r n s i n t h e e m p l o y m e n t p l a n . U n d e r s u b s e c t i o n ( 4 ) , i f a n p i e n t t o 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 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 p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e i p a t e i n t h e p r o g r a m . e r e d i n t o a n E P w i t h c o n d i t i o n s . O n e o f t h e c o n d i t i o n s i p a t e s i n E P B C p r o g r a m m i n g r e g u l a rl y a n d a s d i r e c t e d o n t a c t t h e c o n t r a c t o r a t t h e t e l e p h o n e n u m b e r l i s t e d i n h e n s h e s t a r t s o r e n d s e m p l o y m e n t . I f t h e a p p e l l a n t t a n d s t h a t s h e w i l l b e i n e l i g i b l e fo r I A u n d e r t h e E A A . n o t r e a d o r u n d e r s t a n d t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f h e r E P , t h e e d t h a t s h e h a d r e a d , u n d e r s t o o d a n d a g r e e d t o t h e r y w a s r e a s o n a b l e i n t h e i r d e t e r m i n a t i o n t h a t s h e d i d . y d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t fa i l e d t o m e e t t h e h e d u l e d o r i e n t a t i o n s e s s i o n s , t h e f i r s t o n A p r i l 2 9 , 2 0 1 4 , s m e n t w o r k s h o p s o n M a y 1 s t a n d 2 , 2 0 1 4 , a n d d i d n o t e m i n i s t r y r e a s o n a b l y d e t e r m i n e d a p p e l l a n t w a s a w a r e s o f h e r E P a n d w a s p r o v i d e d w i t h a w r i t t e n r e m i n d e r l e t t e r f r o m E P B C d a t e d M a y 2 , 2 0 1 4 , w h i c h w a s g i v e n a v e r b a l r e m i n d e r o f t h e n e e d t o c o m p l y w i t h h e r n M a y 1 4 , 2 0 1 4 . W h i l e t h e a p p e l l a n t a r g u e d a t t h e d t o t h e m w a s b e c a u s e h e r m a i l w a s n o t f o r w a r d e d t o l f i n d s t h e m i n i s t r y r e a s o n a b l y d e t e r m i n e d t h a t s h e C M a y 1 3 , 2 0 1 4 , w e l l i n a d v a n c e o f h e r J u n e 1 , 2 0 1 4 d t h a t t h e r e a s o n s h e d i d n o t a t t e n d h e r A p r i l 2 9 , 2 0 1 4 , s s t a t e m e n t d i r e c t l y c o n t r a d i c t s w i t h t h e a r g u m e n t s h e n c e a t E P B C t o l o o k fo r w o r k a n d n o t k n o w i n g s h e w a s c o r d s s h o w t h a t s h e f a i l e d t o c o n t a c t t h e m i n i s t r y a s s h e a l s o fa i l e d t o c o n t a c t E P B C t o m a k e a r r a n g e m e n t s d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t c l i cl n o t c o m p l y w i t h t h e r t s t o p a r t i c i o a t e i n t h e e n m l o v m e n t p r o g r a m a s s e t o u t
APPEAi I above ins. 9(1) and (4)(a) ofEAA The panel finds that although the appellant argued in her Request for Reconsideration that she has a doctor's appointment to see if she is under stress or depressed, she chose not to raise this issue at the hearing, nor did she submit any medical documentation verifying that she suffers from any medical issues that would impact her ability to attend employment programming. For these reasons the panel finds that the ministry reasonably determined that there were no documented medical reasons presented causing the appellant to cease participation in the program as set out above ins. 9(4)(b) ofEAA. Therefore the panel finds that the ministry's reconsideration decision was reasonably supported by the evidence and is a reasonable application of the legislation based on the circumstances of the appellant and confirms the decision. The appellant is not successful in her appeal. EAAT 003(10/06/01)
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.