Nov 10
18
Did McGuinty gov’t kill man over a measly $4,000?
National Post – Nov. 16, 2010
Debtor’s prison for dads
By Barbara Kay
Last week Ontario announced it will begin impounding cars of fathers who fall behind in their child support payments. What, are mere licence suspensions not driving enough men to despair?
On Aug. 31 Paul Donovan, age 50, a reliable long-haul trucker, lay down beside train tracks near his home in London, Ont., and rolled himself into the path of an oncoming train. Most people would call it a suicide. Not his common-law partner, Brenda Higgins. Ms. Higgins holds Ontario’s Family Responsibility Office (FRO) liable for his death, and will launch a lawsuit to that effect.
Paul’s ex-wife works, owns a home and drives a new car. Neither she nor their children – today adults of 18 and 21 – are, or ever were, impoverished. Paul had been paying regular child support since 1996. But during the trucking industry’s recent hard times, Paul was temporarily unemployed, and missed two support payments.
Although he was soon back at work, Paul’s commercial licence was suspended by the FRO. They refused to reinstate it without payment of $1,500 Paul hadn’t yet earned. Their irrational licence suspension ensured he couldn’t earn it. Ms. Higgins’ scant income is only sufficient to support her three children. According to Ms. Higgins in a telephone interview, several pleas to negotiate the amount and schedule of payments with the FRO by Paul, his MPP and an ombudsman were rebuffed.
Bills mounted, but Paul’s livelihood remained blocked. He couldn’t afford a lawyer, and when he acted for himself a judge told him she couldn’t help him. The FRO took him to court, petitioning for $10,000 or 188 days in jail. Appalled, Paul confided to Ms. Higgins he would rather die than serve such a sentence. Famous last words. …
Tally: A healthy, responsible, productive man is dead, a partner devastated. Two middle-class children have lost a loved father, three children an engaged stepfather. At the time of his death Paul Donovan owed a measly $4,000 in child support.
Ms. Higgins can hear the trains go by as she struggles to sleep. Is there a winner in this story? If so, who?
Read the complete article here.