Gift cards run out for third day

(Update)

Today was the third and last day Torontonians could line up across the city to receive their grocery gift cards; a partial reimbursement for food spoiled during the recent ice storm.

Despite $835,000 in cards being handed out, frustrations have been running high since the cards were first distributed on Tuesday. We’ve been following this story from day one from Golden Mile Employment and Social Services. Its one of the Ontario Works locations; this one at Victoria Park and Eglinton. It paints the picture of what has been going on throughout the other 15 locations. Things are very chaotic.

Some people lined up at midnight outside this Ontario works location in Toronto in hopes of being one of the lucky few to receive a grocery gift card, on this third and final day of distribution.

“I’m on disability I don’t have any money. I need food.”

Coordinator: “I want everyone to get to the side of the wall so we can coordinate this better.”

But in a repeat of Tuesday and Thursday’s disorganized frenzy, the cards were gone in a flash. And once again, it left hundreds empty handed and lashing out. And the target of their rath? Premier Kathleen Wynne.

“She needs her damn head read. She’s getting a call from me today, email, letter, call whatever it takes.”

“We’re a great government this and that. What has the government really done for people through this crisis. Nothing!”

Workers conduct interviews on the spot and keep a record of who’s received what. But the only information required is proof of address and photo identification. So there really is no way to assess a person’s need. And that doesn’t sit well with PC MPP Lisa MacLeod: “There has been no needs assessment. Some people seem to be picking up the cards who aren’t reliant on the extra $100. There could have been a better way to roll this out.”

“You have your ID. You live in Toronto?”

Only Torontonians are getting the cards at this point. The province says it will be extended the offer to other municipalities in the coming days. Hamilton MPP Paul Miller Says this is unfair to other regions: “If you’re gonna hand out food cards you should be handing them out to the people all over the province, not just Toronto.”

Wendy Fraleigh lives in Freelton and got her power back after nearly 12 days. There are no gift cards for her, even though she lost all of her food: “All my groceries, probably $300. We’re all in the same boat, we had all about food for Christmas, the fridge was full, it’s just all garbage.”

MacLeod say the Liberals made two critical mistakes. They didn’t consult other members of the legislature and they didn’t use the pros: “There are experts who are able to ensure that we have a way to get food and access to people and that is best done through the food banks and through the municipality”

This system has been far from perfect. MacLeod has called it a public relations nightmare for the Liberals. In an email sent to us Friday night from the Office of the Premier they said: “They’ve helped 8,500 families over the three day period. And they were also clear from the very beginning they could not help everyone.”

It also reads: “Those receiving assistance may have the ability to receive additional support on a case-by-case basis and should contact their worker.”

But I think the biggest issue here is the fear that some of the most vulnerable lined up for hours only to be sent away with nothing.

, and many are blaming Premier Kathleen Wynne for the chaos.

“This is foolish. This woman needs her head read.”

“This is a publicity stunt. That’s all it is.”

Even residents who got their hands on a gift card said the experience was unnecessarily chaotic.

This is the last day for distribution in Toronto, but the province says grocery cards are on their way to other cities in Ontario.