On Friday Graham Burke went before the Disability Support Program Provincial Review Committee to argue his case for a scooter. It was a real Kangaroo Court. Graham’s hope of receiving the help he needs and deserves is pretty dim.
A friend offered the term “Kangaroo Court” in an email. I looked it up in a Wikipedia
‘A kangaroo court or kangaroo trial, also known as drumhead court-martial or Drumhead trial, is a sham legal proceeding or court. Kangaroo courts are judicial proceedings that deny proper procedure in the name of expediency. The outcome of such a trial is essentially made in advance, usually for the purpose of providing a conviction, either by going through the motions of manipulated procedure or by allowing no defense at all.’
That fits this Review to a T. Here is the situation: the chair of the meeting was Mark Belfry, the Provincial Coordinator of disability and social programs. That would make him the boss of everyone in the room other than Graham and I. Mark is a wonderfully cultivated person of even temper; however, he is not independent. To his left and right sat two DSP workers from up west. Representing the local office was the supervisor and Graham’s case worker. No, she has been reassigned to make it hard to get testimony from her. We have a new employee who is as nice as pie but can’t offer one word of evidence.
Stacked deck? You got it.
On the way in they give us photocopies of 28 documents, 26 pages of which are new material. We are supposed to read it all, digest their importance and comment intelligently. In court or hearing like Human Rights, you are expected to provide discovery documents long in advance and last minute submissions of your own documents usually prejudices your side. Not here: it’s Kangaroo Court. The fix is in anyways so why bother with procedure.
When we asked for other documents, no way. Go through the Information Commissioner. Kangaroo Court.
At first we were given time to present material: as it went along, you could tell we were taking up their time. It was pretty rushed by noon. No breaks were offered, just slog through. In court they usually break every 1 ½ or so. Did they not hear about bio breaks, AKA the washroom. What’s the rush? Kangaroo Court.
Tomorrow we’ll cover the facts, just the facts m’am. The next day all 15 minutes of the DSP case. Then the wrap up and where we go from here. Gonna get me one of those Aussie hats and a bull-whip. Gotta learn how to deal with Kangaroo Court.
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