One Coaster's difficult choice between feeding his family and pursuing financial independence has led to him call on the B.C. government to make the transition away from disability assistance an easier one.
At 37, Aaron Eskola has had to deal with the chronic seizures and memory loss associated with epilepsy for his entire life. His previous attempts to hold down a job and support his wife and two kids have been unsuccessful due to concerns about the nature of his condition and the liabilities it creates for employers.
Eskola has lived on the Coast for roughly 10 years now, supporting his children -ages five and 12 - using a modest government stipend. His epilepsy has also prevented his wife from working, as he depends on her care nearly 24 hours a day.
"It hurts a man's pride," Eskola said. "I was being prideful when my first son was born; he's 12 now. I went for disability. I needed something stable. At the very least it would get food in his stomach, pay the bills."
Throughout his years, Eskola has struggled with short- and long-term memory loss.
He once took a job at a northern oil rig, only to lose it after having a seizure and discovering the company's liability insurance would no longer cover him as an employee.
Another incident saw Eskola lose consciousness and smash his teeth on a fire hydrant. He now sports a set of plastic teeth.
But the future began to look brighter in January when Eskola found out he would be inheriting a Sechelt business after the owner decided to retire.
"So I proceeded to get a business loan from Community Futures; we put our car against it. We signed up a lease with Key Property Management. We started doing business," Eskola said.
He said he called the government in February to tell them his plan to have the operation become profitable by July of this year. He expected to begin supporting his family on his own, without the need for disability assistance.
But, after being passed around between different government employees, Eskola said his latest payment was withheld on April 4.
"If I feed my children, then I can't pay the lease," Eskola said. "After the business has gone under, the mobile has a lean on it and the car is taken away, I will be back on disability."
Social Development critic and Victoria-Beacon Hill NDP MLA Carole James said Eskola's worries are not uncommon.
"It isn't unique to hear concerns from individuals who are trying to do the right thing to get off disability or income assistance and who just find barrier after barrier in their way to make it out of the cycle of poverty," she said.
In the province of B.C., persons with disabilities are required to report their income on a monthly basis. Each month they receive a $500 earnings exemption, but any non-exempt income over that amount is taken off their cheques.
Like Eskola, James worried that this could prevent those depending on assistance from giving their alternatives a meaningful exploration.
"The system is not set up to encourage people to make the kind of bold step that the individual you're talking about has made," she said. "You certainly don't want to discourage an individual like that. You want to encourage them."
Several requests for an interview with Social Development Minister Stephanie Cadieux were unsuccessful; however, a spokesperson did provide general comment.
The Ministry would not comment specifically on the case, but said there are several programs designed to aid enterprising individuals with disabilities.
These include continued tax benefits and reduced medical premiums after leaving assistance. Persons with disabilities can also gain exemptions by using a government savings plan or placing their assets in trust.
"Disbursements from approved trusts are exempt if used to pay for disability-related costs," said ministry spokesperson Melody Way.
For now, Eskola said he will remain hopeful that he can become a provider for his family, instead of a dependent.
"This is independence. This is not having to ask somebody else if I can succeed. This is not having my hat in my hand," he said. "And above all, it's stability in extremely unstable times."
