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 M i n i s t r y o f S o c i a l r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n d a t e d M a y 2 7 , 2 0 1 4 , w h i c h a s s i s t a n c e d u e t o a f a i l u r e t o c o m p l y w i t h t h e c o n d i t s e c t i o n 9 ( 1 ) o f t h e 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 r e a s o n a b l e e f f o r t t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n h i s E P a n d h a s n o p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 9 ( 4 ) o f t h e E A A . 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 e c t i o n 9 E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )A P P E A L # '. D e v e l o p m e n t a n d S o c i a l I n n o v a t i o n ( t h e m i n i s t r y ) h e l d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t i s n o t e l i g i b l e f o r i n c o m e i o n s o f h i s E m p l o y m e n t P l a n ( E P ) a s r e q u i r e d b y t ( E A A ) g i v e n t h e a p p e l l a n t f a i l e d t o d e m o n s t r a t e t c e a s e d t o p a r t i c i p a t e f o r m e d i c a l r e a s o n s
P A R T E S u m m a r v o f F a c t s T h e a p p e l l a n t 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 . t h e h e a r i n g p r o c e e d e d u n d e r S e c t i o n 8 6 { b ) o f t h e E T h e f o l l o w i n g e v i d e n c e w a s b e f o r e t h e M i n i s t r y a t t h 1 ) 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 s i g n e d a n d d a t e • O n A p r i l 2 5 , 2 0 1 4 h e h a d a n i n p e r s o n 2 0 1 4 c h e q u e , i n w h i c h h e p r o v i d e d p r E P B C ( E m p l o y m e n t P r o g r a m o f B r i t i s d e n i e d h i s a s s i s t a n c e c h e q u e ; • F o r t h e m o n t h s o f M a r c h a n d A p r i l h e a n d h a d t e e t h p r o b l e m s f o r w h i c h h e h • T h e t e e t h p r o b l e m s h a d c a u s e d p a i n a • H e r e s c h e d u l e d h i s A p r i l 1 , 2 0 1 4 a p p o p r o o f o f t h i s ; • H e a t t e n d e d t h e A p r i l 1 0 , 2 0 1 4 a p p o i n a n d s i c k n e s s b r o u g h t o n b y h u n g e r . H t h e d e n t i s t p u l l e d o u t s o m e t e e t h ; • D u e t o t h e d e n t a l w o r k d o n e o n A p r i l 1 s p e c i f i c f o o d s , a n d h a d a d o c t o r ' s n o t e v o u c h e r a s i t w a s n o t d e e m e d a n e m e • H e r e s c h e d u l e d h i s A p r i l 1 0 , 2 0 1 4 a p p d u e t o c o n c e r n s r e g a r d i n g h i s a s s i s t a n h u n g e r ; • S i n c e h e d i d n o t r e c e i v e h i s M a y c h e q o f f i c e t o s h o w p r o o f h e h a d r e s c h e d u l e 2 0 1 4 b u t w a s d e n i e d a s s i s t a n c e ; • A s s o o n a s h e c a n p r o v i d e p r o o f t h a t h t o g o t o t h e d e n t i s t , h e w i l l ; a n d • N o w w i t h t h e h u n g e r h e i s a l s o s t r e s s e 2 ) A n a p p o i n t m e n t c a r d f r o m a d e n t a l o f f i c e w h i 2 0 1 4 a t 2 : 3 0 p m ; 3 ) T h r e e a p p o i n t m e n t c a r d s f r o m E P B C t h a t i n d A p r i l 2 3 , 2 0 1 4 a t 9 : 0 0 a m a n d A p r i l 3 0 , 2 0 1 4 a 4 ) A 2 p a g e p r o g r a m f o r a m e m o r i a l s e r v i c e f o r d e a t h o c c u r r i n g F e b r u a r y 2 4 , 2 0 1 4 ; 5 ) A 2 p a g e p r o g r a m f o r a m e m o r i a l s e r v i c e f o r d e a t h o c c u r r i n g J a n u a r y 2 3 , 2 0 1 4 ; 6 ) E P s i g n e d a n d d a t e d F e b r u a r y 1 8 , 2 0 1 4 , a c k 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 E P a a o o e l l a n t w i l l : E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 ): A P P E A L # A f t e r c o n f i r m i n g t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t w a s n o t i f i e d , m p l o y m e n t a n d A s s i s t a n c e R e g u l a t i o n . e t i m e o f r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n : d M a y 1 9 , 2 0 1 4 , w h i c h s t a t e s t h e f o l l o w i n g : m e e t i n g w i t h t h e m i n i s t r y r e g a r d i n g h i s M a y o o f t h a t h e r e s c h e d u l e d h i s a p p o i n t m e n t w i t h t h e h C o l u m b i a ) f o r A p r i l 1 , 2 0 1 4 , b u t w a s t o l d h e w a s w a s d e a l i n g w i t h t h e d e a t h o f a c h i l d h o o d f r i e n d a d a n a p p o i n t m e n t s c h e d u l e d f o r A p r i l 1 , 2 0 1 4 ; n d h u n g e r a s h e c o u l d n o t e a t d u e t o t h e p a i n ; i n t m e n t w i t h E P B C t o A p r i l 1 0 , 2 0 1 4 a n d p r o v i d e d t m e n t w i t h E P B C b u t l e f t e a r l y d u e t o t e e t h p a i n e w e n t t o h i s d e n t i s t w i t h o u t a n a p p o i n t m e n t a n d O , 2 0 1 4 , t h e a p p e l l a n t w a s r e q u i r e d t o e a t c o n f i r m i n g t h i s , b u t h e w a s d e n i e d a f o o d r g e n c y ; o i n t m e n t t o A p r i l 2 3 , 2 0 1 4 b u t f o r g o t t o a t t e n d c e c h e q u e a n d w e a k n e s s b r o u g h t o n b y p a i n a n d u e a s o f A p r i l 2 3 , 2 0 1 4 , h e w e n t t o t h e m i n i s t r y d h i s A p r i l 2 3 , 2 0 1 4 a p p o i n t m e n t t o A p r i l 3 0 , e l e f t h i s a p p o i n t m e n t w i t h t h e E P B C c o n t r a c t o r d a n d n o t s l e e p i n g . c h i n d i c a t e s a n a p p o i n t m e n t f o r F e b r u a r y 1 7 , i c a t e a p p o i n t m e n t s f o r A p r i l 1 0 , 2 0 1 4 a t 9 : 4 5 a m , t 1 0 : 3 0 a m ; M a r c h 7 , 2 0 1 4 a t 1 0 : 0 0 a m , w i t h t h e i n d i v i d u a l ' s F e b r u a ry 1 , 2 0 1 4 a t 2 : 0 0 p m , w i t h t h e i n d i v i d u a l ' s n o w l e d g i n g t h e a p p e l l a n t i s a w a r e o f t h e n d a w a r e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f h i s E P t h a t s t a t e t h e
• C o n t a c t E P B C w i t h i n f i v e b u s i n e s s d a • 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 • W o r k w i t h E P B C t o a d d r e s s a n y i s s u e t a s k s a s s i g n e d ; • C o n t a c t E P B C i f h e i s u n a b l e t o a t t e n d I n t h e N o t i c e o f A p p e a l , s i g n e d a n d d a t e d J u n e 6 , 2 • h e d i s a g r e e s w i t h t h e m i n i s t r y a n d t h a t h e d i d • o n e a p p o i n t m e n t w a s m i s s e d d u e t o a f u n e r a A p r i l 1 , 2 0 1 4 ; • t h e A p r i l 1 , 2 0 1 4 w a s m i s s e d d u e t o n o t f e e l • a d o c t o r ' s n o t e w a s p r o v i d e d t o t h e m i n i s t ry r w a s d e n i e d o n F e b r u a r y 2 5 , 2 0 1 4 ; • f o r 2 m o n t h s h e s u f f e r e d g r e a t p a i n d u e t o h i t i m e a s w e l l ; • o n A p r i l 1 0 , 2 0 1 4 h e l e f t h i s a p p o i n t m e n t w i t h e x t r a c t e d t e e t h , a n d t h e n r e s c h e d u l e d h i s t h e • h e f o r g o t h i s A p r i l 2 3 , 2 0 1 4 b e c a u s e h e w a s A p r i l 3 0 , 2 0 1 4 ; • o n A p r i l 2 3 , 2 0 1 4 h e w a i t e d f o r 5 h o u r s t o s e • o n A p r i l 2 5 , 2 0 1 4 h e m e t w i t h t h e m i n i s t r y a n c o m p l i a n c e w i t h h i s E P e v e n t h o u g h h e s h o w a p p o i n t m e n t t o A p r i l 3 0 , 2 0 1 4 , h a d p r o o f o f d • o n A p r i l 3 0 , 2 0 1 4 h e d i d n o t a t t e n d h i s a p p o i n s t r e s s e d d u e t o n o m o n e y ; • o n J u n e 1 , 2 0 1 4 h e w a s e v i c t e d f r o m h i s h o m A t t h e h e a r i n g t h e m i n i s t r y r e l i e d o n i t s r e c o n s i d e r a t E M T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )� A P P E A L # y s o f s i g n i n g t h e E P ; u l a r l y a n d a s d i r e c t e d b y t h e c o n t r a c t o r ; s t h a t m a y i m p a c t e m p l o y a b i l i t y a n d c o m p l e t e a l l a s e s s i o n . 0 1 4 , t h e a p p e l l a n t s t a t e s t h a t ; c o m p l y w i t h h i s E P ; l f o r a f r i e n d / f a m i l y b u t i t w a s r e s c h e d u l e d f o r w e l l a s a r e s u l t o f n o t e a t i n g ; e g a r d i n g t h e n e e d f o r h e a l t h s u p p l e m e n t s b u t t h i s s t e e t h a n d h a d d e n t i s t a p p o i n t m e n t d u r i n g t h i s E P B C d u e t o t e e t h p a i n , w e n t t o h i s d e n t i s t , w h o a p p o i n t m e n t f o r A p r i l 2 3 , 2 0 1 4 ; w o r r i e d a b o u t h i s c h e q u e b u t r e s c h e d u l e d i t f o r e a m i n i s t ry w o r k e r b u t d i d n o t g e t t h e o p p o r t u n i t y ; d w a s t o l d h e w a s d e n i e d a s s i s t a n c e d u e t o n o n  e d t h e w o r k e r t h a t h e r e s c h e d u l e d h i s o c t o r ' s a p p o i n t m e n t s a n d o f t w o f u n e r a l s ; t m e n t w i t h E P B C b e c a u s e h e w a s u p s e t a n d e a n d i s u n a b l e t o g e t h i s b e l o n g i n g s . i o n h e a r i n g .
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 b e f o r e t h e p a n e l i s t h e r e a s o n a b l e n e s s o M a y 2 7 , 2 0 1 4 , w h i c h h e l d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t i s n o t e 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 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 ) g i v e n t h e a p p a rt i c i p a t e i n h i s E P a n d h a s n o t c e a s e d t o p a r t i c i p a o f t h e E A A . ' S e c t i o n 9 o f t h e E A A s t a t e s t h a t : E m p l o y m e n t p l a 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 a p p l i c a n t o r r e c i p i e n t i n t h e f a m i l y u n i t ( a ) e n t e r i n t o a n e m p l o y m e ( b ) c o m p l y w i t h t h e c o n d i t i o ( 2 ) A d e p e n d e n t y o u t h , w h e n r e q u i r e d ( a ) e n t e r i n t o a n e m p l o y m e ( b ) c o m p l y w i t h t h e c o n d i t i o ( 3 ) T h e m i n i s t e r m a y s p e c i f y t h e c o n d i t l i m i t a t i o n , a c o n d i t i o n r e q u i r i n g t h e a p p 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 a p p l i c a n t , r e c i p i e n t o r d e p e n d e n t y o u t h ( a ) f i n d 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 ( 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 d e p e n d e n t y o u t h t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n a s p e i s n o t m e t i f t h e p e r s o n ( a ) f a i l s t o d e m o n s t r a t e r e a ( b ) c e a s e s , e x c e p t f o r m e d ( 5 ) I f a d e p e n d e n t y o u t h f a i l s t o c o m p l y a m o u n t o f i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e o r h a r d s h t h e p r e s c r i b e d a m o u n t f o r t h e p r e s c r i b e ( 6 ) T h e m i n i s t e r m a y a m e n d , s u s p e n d o ( 7 ) A d e c i s i o n u n d e r t h i s s e c t i o n E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )'. A P P E A L # f t h e m i n i s t r y ' s r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n d a t e d l i g i b l e f o r i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e d u e t o a f a i l u r e t o ( E P ) a s r e q u i r e d b y s e c t i o n 9 ( 1 ) o f t h e p e l l a n t f a i l e d 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 t o t e f o r m e d i c a l r e a s o n s p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 9 ( 4 ) 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 , e a c h , 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 n t p l a n , a n d n s i n t h e e m p l o y m e n t p l a n . t o d o s o b y t h e m i n i s t e r , m u s t n t p l a n , a n d n s i n t h e e m p l o y m e n t p l a n . i o n s i n a n e m p l o y m e n t p l a n i n c l u d i n g , w i t h o u t l i c a n t , r e c i p i e n t o r d e p e n d e n t y o u t h t o p a r t i c i p a t e m t h a t , i n t h e m i n i s t e r ' s o p i n i o n , w i l l a s s i s t t h e t o l e . n d i t i o n r e q u 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 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 a t c o n d i t i o n s o n a b l e e f f o rt s t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e p r o g r a m , o r 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 r o g r a m . w i t h s u b s e c t i o n ( 2 ) , t h e m i n i s t e r m a y r e d u c e t h e i p a s s i s t a n c e 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 b y d p e r i o d . r c a n c e l a n e m p l o y m e n t p l a n .
�APPEAL# (a) requiring a person to enter into an employment plan, (b) amending, suspending or cancelling an employment plan, or (c) specifying the conditions of an employment plan is final and conclusive and is not open to review by a court on any ground or to appeal under section 17 (3) [reconsideration and appeal rights]. The Appellant's Position: The appellant's position is that he did comply with his EP requirements but was unable to complete his appointment due to teeth pain. He argues that he had 2 funerals to attend and teeth pain which prevented him from attending his scheduled appointments. Furthermore, he argues that he provided a letter from his dentist that stated that he needs a health supplement and this demonstrates he had dental work done and confirms a medical reason that prevented him from participating in his EP. Since he was denied a health supplement, he was also too hungry and weak to attend his appointments with EPBC. The Ministry's Position: The ministry's position is that on February 18, 2014 the appellant signed his EP which demonstrates that he understood that he is ineligible for income assistance if he does not comply with the conditions of his EP; one condition was to participate in the employment program (EPBC). On this date the ministry representative also advised the appellant to inform EPBC of his dental appointments and other current medical issues such as depression and limb pain. Between February 18, 2014 and April 25, 2014, the appellant had a scheduled appointment and several rescheduled appointments with EPBC. He attended only one and left part way through the appointment, thus not completing his initial appointment with the contractor or making reasonable efforts to participate in his employment program. The ministry does not consider mourning due to the passing of 2 friends, teeth pain and extractions, hunger, not feeling well and forgetting as events that would preclude the appellant from attending and/or completing his first appointment with EPBC. Furthermore, the ministry argues that the appellant did not attend his April 30, 2014 appointment and did not provide information as to why he did not attend. Finally, the ministry's position is that the appellant has not provided confirmation from a medical practitioner that a medical reason precluded him from participating or caused him to cease to participate in the EP as pursuant to section 9(4)(b) of the EAA. The Panel's Decision: Section 9 of the EAA sets out that to be eligible for assistance, the recipient must, when required to, enter into an EP, and comply with the conditions of the plan. The panel notes that evidence establishes that the appellant was aware of the requirements of his EP and aware of the consequences of not complying with the EP. The appellant's EP contained the condition that he attend an employment program and he failed to make reasonable efforts to participate. The appellant argues that he attended 2 funerals. The panel acknowledges that the appellant's two friends did pass away. However, the panel notes that, the passing of one friend was on January 23, 2014 and his funeral was February 1, 2014, which was prior to the annellant attendina his EMT003(10/06/01)
a p p o i n t m e n t w i t h t h e m i n i s t r y o n F e b r u a r y 1 8 , 2 0 1 4 f r i e n d p a s s e d a w a y o n F e b r u a r y 2 4 , 2 0 1 4 , t h u s g i v i n t h e E P a n d h i s f r i e n d ' s d e a t h t o c o n t a c t t h e E P B C c d i d n o t m a k e c o n t a c t u n t i l a f t e r t h e f u n e r a l . T h e a p p e l l a n t a l s o a r g u e s t h a t h e w a s i n p a i n d u e t o a r e s u l t o f h i s t e e t h p a i n , h e w a s h u n g r y a n d w e a k , c o u l d n o t a t t e n d o r c o m p l e t e h i s a p p o i n t m e n t s w i t h p r o v i d e d o n e a p p o i n t m e n t c a r d f o r a d e n t a l a p p o i n t m d a y p r i o r t o h i m s i g n i n g h i s E P . H o w e v e r , t h e r e a r e e s t a b l i s h t h a t h e a t t e n d e d d e n t a l a p p o i n t m e n t s i m m a p p o i n t m e n t s w i t h E P B C . T h e p a n e l n o t e s t h a t t h e h i s d e n t i s t t h a t , i n h i s o p i n i o n , c o n f i r m h e h a d a m e d o n e w h i c h s t a t e s t h a t h e n e e d s a h e a l t h s u p p l e m e n c a n . . S i n c e t h e s e l e t t e r s w e r e n o t m a d e a v a i l a b l e t o n o t p r o v i d e c o n f i r m a t i o n o f a m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n t h a t e m p l o y m e n t p r o g r a m a s r e q u i r e d b y s e c t i o n 9 ( 4 ) ( b ) T h e m i n i s t r y a l s o a r g u e s t h a t E P B C r e s c h e d u l e d t h e g i v i n g h i m r e a s o n a b l e o p p o r t u n i t y t o a t t e n d a n d t h u s h a s n o t p r o v i d e d c o n f i r m a t i o n o f a m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n n o t e s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t d i d h a v e h i s a p p o i n t m e n t s r l e f t b e f o r e i t w a s c o m p l e t e a n d h e d i d n o t a t t e n d h i s f i n d s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t d i d n o t d e m o n s t r a t e r e a s o n a p r o g r a m a n d d i d n o t h a v e a m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n t h a t p p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 9 ( 4 ) o f t h e E A A h a s n o t b e e n m e w a s a c o n d i t i o n o f h i s E P t h e p a n e l f i n d s t h e a p p e l l a C o n c l u s i o n : T h e p a n e l t h e r e f o r e 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 f a i l u r e 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 P w a s a r e a s o n a b l y s u p p o r t e d b y t h e e v i d e n c e . T h e p a n e l t h E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )I A P P E A L # , w h e n h e s i g n e d h i s E P . · T h e a p p e l l a n t ' s s e c o n d g t h e a p p e l l a n t 3 b u s i n e s s d a y s b e t w e e n s i g n i n g o n t r a c t o r t o s e t u p h i s i n i t i a l a p p o i n t m e n t b u t h e p r o b l e m w i t h h i s t e e t h a n d t e e t h e x t r a c t i o n s . A s a s h e c o u l d n o t e a t , a n d f o r t h e s e r e a s o n s h e E P B C . T h e p a n e l n o t e s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a s e n t d a t e d F e b r u a r y 1 7 , 2 0 1 4 , w h i c h w a s o n e n o o t h e r a p p o i n t m e n t c a r d s o r e v i d e n c e t o e d i a t e l y p r i o r t o , o r o n t h e d a y o f h i s s c h e d u l e a p p e l l a n t h a s m a d e r e f e r e n c e t o t w o l e t t e r s f r o m i c a l r e a s o n t o m i s s h i s a p p o i n t m e n t s w i t h E P B C ; t , a n d a s e c o n d t h a t h e w i l l p r o v i d e a s s o o n a s h e t h e p a n e l , 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 d i d p r e v e n t e d h i m f r o m p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n h i s o f t h e E A A . a p p e l l a n t ' s a p p o i n t m e n t s s e v e r a l t i m e s t h u s 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 P a n d t h a t h e t h e p r e v e n t e d h i m f r o m p a r t i c i p a t i n g . T h e p a n e l e s c h e d u l e d s e v e r a l t i m e s , h e a t t e n d e d o n e b u t A p r i l 3 0 , 2 0 1 4 a p p o i n t m e n t a t a l l . T h e p a n e l 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 h i s e m p l o y m e n t r e v e n t e d h i m f r o m p a r t i c i p a t i n g t h i s c o n d i t i o n t . A s 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 p r o g r a m n t d i d 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 i n h i s E P . t o d e n y 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 d u e t o 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 n a n d w a s e r e f o r e c o n f i r m s t h e m i n i s t r y ' s d e c i s i o n .
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.