Before my separation in 1998,I worked as a manager for a company for 18 yrs.My yearly income at the time was $70,000 plus. In 2000 I walked away from that job because the FRO was taking $1300.00 per month child support,and I could not afford to live In Toronto anymore.
On top of my living expenses,I had to pay off debts from my marriage of 18 yrs,and this was just too much for me to handle financially at the time. So needless to say I went from job to job since 2000 making a meager living the best I could under the circumstances.
Since 1998 I have endured a mental breakdown that made me incapable of doing the simplest of task,and under my doctors care I was heavily medicated with anti depressants etc etc. Against my doctor advice I flushed the medication mainly because it made thing worse. I then just gave up and started drinking on daily basis and then eventually I got into heavy drugs cocaine and pain killers,and before I knew it I became addicted and my life spiraled downward fast.
In 2002 I hit my bottom big-time,and I put myself into detox and then into a rehabilitation program.Well I graduated from that program in June 2002,and I have now been clean for over 6 yrs. But things would get worse for me in January 2004 I suffered a severe heart attack,and died in the emergency. Fortunately the doctors were able to revive me and rushed to University Hospital in London.Where they did emergency angioplasty surgery on me,and put two stents in my heart.
I spent 15 days in the hospital recovering,and another yr recovering at home.I had to go on sick benefits from E.I during my recovery,and this is how sick these laws are, the government took half of my sick benefits for child support. I was expected to live on less than $300.00 a month while recovering from a heart attack.
So I did the only thing I could do and that was apply for social assistance,and I lived on $500.00 per month for close to a yr while recovering. Today I am employed full-time and it will be 3yrs in August, I have worked for this same employer. I have been living on less than $900.00 a month for three yrs now,and have paid close too $40,000 in child support. My ex wife has remarried and has just bought a new vehicle and this yr,and they bought a new home. Whats wrong with this story,please explain to me what I’m missing here.
I’m a father who loves his children dearly and I’m providing for them,and want to be with them.But I barely make it by each month,and can’t even afford the bus fare too see my children. I get so frustrated and pissed off with the system at times I just want to give up,and throw the towel in surrendering my life and my rights to the injustices of this Government. that maintains as Canadian citizens we all have the right to a certain standard of living without being discriminated against.
Well just like many of (You) other fathers I am being discriminated against,and I’m not throwing the towel in,and I will fight the good fight till the end.
Tell me am I alone in this fight,or are you going to stand beside me in this fight.
Thanks for listening today……..Brian
