While we applaud the government's decision regarding the exemption of the 5,000 mental health consumers (in response to Community pressures) it is a step in the
right direction, but goes no where near enough to scrap this whole make-work project or dismiss this exercise in futility. The projected Savings for the estimated 9,000
that will not qualify under this reassessment is approximately $180.00 per month per person, $1.5 million per month, or $18,000,000 per year. All on the poverty of
people with disabilities. This is also is going to cost in the area of $4,000,000 to implement via payments to Doctors and Assessors. Millions by the time the Olympics
is scheduled.

The disAbility income not sufficiently high enough to enable people with disabilities to live with dignity, participate in the community, purchase nutritious,
healthy food or have access to safe, secure and Affordable housing. People are disabled by circumstance or illness not by choice. Many have been unable to access needed
medication, medical treatments, home care or therapies required for maintenance of health and life.

Using these savings for Olympic Venues few can afford, simply disappearing into government coffers or raising the per diem of MLA's is equally shameful. Is it for
housing or shelter for those who will become homeless in 2004 because they are deemed 'employable'?

People with disAbilities live 30% below the poverty line now, how will they survive if their monthly allowance shrinks any further? Shelter rates for a 1-bedroom
apartment average in excess of $550.00,yet the shelter rate given is $325.00 per month. At a time when the cost of living is rising, people who are poor, people with
disabilities, and others who are marginalized do not get any increases to cover the cost of living. In fact it appears now there will be harsh reductions in a system
that is already punitive, harsh and demeaning.

This is systemic genocide of those who must rely on the Goodwill of Citizens and the Government for their very life and well being. As it was abusive previously. It
is even more so now. For this reason we demand an immediate stop to this assault on Human Beings.