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poor.

Almost before Mike Harris located the washroom in the premier's office, he
slashed welfare benefits by 22 per cent — thereby abruptly stripping the
province's poorest citizens of one-fifth of their incomes.

The Rogers inquest has been the first meaningful examination of what the
Tories have done to the welfare system.

And after eight weeks of testimony, the jury came back with the
recommendation that there should be no lifetime welfare bans, that cases
should be dealt with individually.

But the government was ready; it quickly moved to smash any hope there might
be a moment of reflection on the subject by those who make decisions with
life and death consequences for the most helpless members of society. Before
the afternoon was out, Social Services Minister Brenda Elliott outright
rejected the jury's recommendation.

So it's clear — second chances will remain the preserve of the privileged,
zero tolerance the fate of those with zero power.

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Linda McQuaig is a Toronto-based author and political commentator whose
column appears every Sunday.