Recently my fuzzy little friend, (my cat “Pooka”) became ill. For those fortunate enough to find work and well enough to earn an income, a hundred dollar hiccup (what the vet cost..$110.00) wouldn’t be much of a problem…
As a benefit recipient of the Ontario Disabilities Support Program (ODSP) I have lived the past ten years well below half-way to what the governments of Ontario and the Federal government refer to as the Low Income Cuttoff…{lico}. My benefit is 979.00 a month. I have lived ten years on the basic amount prior to the generous increases seen in the past three years..roughly five percent.
Six hundred goes to pay my rent…according to the ODSP (provincial government) one can find accommodation in the City of London Ontario for $436.00/month.
I haven’t been able to find a single bedroom apartment in the city of London since I lived here …twenty years (20) for the amount that the ODSP and Dalton McGuinty feel is the adequate “shelter allowance”.
In statistics published by CMHC the starting rent in the City Of London Ontario is stated as (last time I looked…$600.00/month…)
I haven’t been able to afford cable TV…hardly a burden given the quality of modern TV…although I have enjoyed a dial-up connection to the Internet ($15.00/month) Of course to use this single recreational activity that I can afford, I also have to afford a telephone line…
My phone bill consistently averages about $25.00 a month. That’s very close to the mimimum amount since I don’t use long distance.
That hundred dollar hiccup put me behind the eight-ball in terms of paying my phone bill. I let the Bell bill slide for two months while I tried to catch up.
I sent Bell Canada fifty dollars today (early this morning before I checked my mail…
In my mail was a notice that since I am delinquent on my phone bill, my phone service will be terminated on Feb. 5/2007
I have had telephone service from Bell for well over the twenty years I’ve lived in London. I talked to a rep from Bell and explained that I had unforseen expenses and had in fact sent fifty on my phone bill account…
My “rep” told me “Bell Canada isn’t a bank and we’re not in the business of providing services to people who don’t pay for it…”
So my telephone service will be over in four days…which means my participation on Canadian Content will be over then too.
Is it my fault?
Yes I am foolish enough to believe that my pussy cat should be cared for fed and vet visits when needed…
I could of course abandon my cat and save some money.
It would do little good to express my anger and disappointment in both the Ontario government and ODSP who insist by the way that a telephone isn’t a “critical” necessity. I experience grand-mal seizures and have been hurt during these situations….broken clavicle, bit through my tongue on one occasion…but hey….my fellow Canadians and my fellow Ontarians are much happier to let me bleed and my pet die than be bothered assisting a disabled person who has contributed to this country for fifty-plus years.
I sure hope all you conservatives celebrate your humanity.
MikeyDB signing off…
Fae WILL take care! 
