Michael Lifshitz is asking for your support

[Note from the Admin:  Michael Lifshitz is a friend of mine from many years ago.  He is a chartered accountant, financial advisor, and holder of an MBA.  He is also a stand-up comic.  Michael has a physical disability and has run into an issue with the Quebec government witholding further adaptive assistance, even though the current problem is likely due to a restriction they themselves have imposed.  Michael is asking for support with a petition, and I've given him some well-deserved soapbox space here. --Jeremy]

Dear Friends,

As many of you are aware, I use an electric wheelchair to get around longer distances. In order to transport the wheelchair, the van must be adapted. The cost of the van adaptation is $32,000.

The Societe Assurance Automobile du Quebec has a program by where it pays for a van adaptation every five years. When I received my first van adaptation, I purchased a van with every expectation that it would last the five years. At the time I had wanted to purchase a Japanese van, but the only models which the government would adapt was a Ford, GM or Dodge.

Whether the van was defective to begin with, or damaged in the adaptation process, is unclear. However, there has been an issue, particularly in the summer time, where the van shuts off in the middle of driving. (If you happened to be driving behind me at the time, my apologies…it was not my fault.) I have spent the last three plus years running between mechanics and the company who does the adaptation of the van, and nobody can fix it once and for all. The good news is it no longer is stalling, as now it will not start at all. Putting aside the cost of paying the adaptation myself, I am unable to find an insurance company who will insure the full cost of the van and adaptive equipment.

I tried to figure out something with the S.A.A.Q., but their answer to every suggestion was see you in January 2010. I went to my MNA, who told me to contact the transport minister, who deleted my e-mail without reading it. I tried to contact the Premier, Mario Dumont and Pauline Marois, and no one is willing to help. My occupational therapist found an appeals process so we appealed to the S.A.A.Q, and after killing a small forest with all the paperwork and waiting five months, I was given the same explanation as I was told when they said I had to wait five years. In September, I went back to my MNA, who wrote a letter on my behalf to the Minister of Transport, where the file still sits being “studied”. While my MNA ensures me he is doing his best to help me, and I am sure he is, winter is coming and I need to be able to use my wheelchair to be able to work and function. I am not looking for handouts on the backs of taxpayers, but rather some help so that I can be independent, and not not only rely on government services, but also be a productive and contributing member of society. (I can’t seem to impress on the government the economic formula give van so I can get where I need to go for work = I make money = I pay taxes!!! )

So…a little frustrated and at a loss of ideas of what to do, I came up with this one. As it seems pretty clear that the government will not listen to one voice, I am hoping they will listen to 32,000. I have prepared a simple online petition. My goal is to get 32,000 signatures of Quebec resdients…1 for every dollar. If you could please sign it, and forward this to your friends, both here on Facebook and outside, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks for your time and hopefully your help.

Michael

The link to the petition is http://www.petitiononline.com/lifshitz/petition.html

[Further links:

• Facebook Page for the Petition:
  http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=40424038342
• Michael's Professional Profile:
  http://www.investorsgroup.ca/consult/michael.lifshitz/english/default.htm
• Michael's Personal Web Page:
  http://www.sureican.info/

Thanks, everyone. --Jeremy]