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Kimberly Rogers (c. 1961 — 9 August 2001) was a Canadian whose death in 2001, while under house arrest for welfare fraud, caused extensive controversy around Ontario Works (the Ontario government's welfare system). Rogers' death led to an inquest which recommended significant changes to the Ontario welfare system. ==History== A resident of Sudbury, Rogers, who was unable to work full-time due to health issues, was receiving standard Ontario welfare benefits of $520 per month, while paying $450 per month in rent. From 1996 to 1999, she also received a total of $49,000 in student loans from the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) to study social services at the city's Cambrian College. Rogers was described as a dedicated and committed student, who graduated with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.5. 〔Mark MacKinnon and Keith Lacey, "Bleak House", ''Globe and Mail'', 18 August 2001.〕 When Rogers first began her studies, receiving both welfare and student loans was entirely legal, and in fact even encouraged as a strategy to help welfare recipients return to the workforce — but the practice was banned in 1996 by the Progressive Conservative government of Mike Harris as part of its welfare reform legislation. There was no evidence that Rogers was ever informed of the change in welfare regulations. In the fall of 1999, the welfare office learned of her student loans, and ordered Rogers to repay $13,486 in benefits. With the overpayment automatically deducted from her monthly welfare cheque, Rogers was left with just $18 each month after paying her rent. As well, she was facing criminal charges for welfare fraud. ==Trial== On 25 April 2001, Rogers pleaded guilty to fraud before Justice Greg Rodgers of the Ontario Court of Justice.〔Rogers v. Sudbury (Administrator of Ontario Works), 2001 CanLII 28086 (ON S.C.)〕 Justice Greg Rodgers stated that she had engaged in "almost four years of deception and dishonesty." "I am satisfied you did not lead an opulent lifestyle, even with these two sources of income," Justice Rodgers said in his verdict, "but welfare is there for people who need it, not for people who want it, who want things and who want money." Rogers, who was pregnant at the time of her trial, was sentenced to six months of house arrest, permitted to leave the house for medical, religious or shopping reasons only on Wednesday mornings, and for a maximum of three hours. She was also ordered to repay the full amount of her overpayment. With the fraud conviction, Ontario Works suspended her welfare benefits for three months, leaving Rogers with no income to pay her rent, buy food or medication, or even pay her fine. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Kimberly Rogers」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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