My $10 investment for the boxing gloves paid off handsomely, translating into millions of dollars more for people with disabilities.

As a member of the Technical Advisory Committee, I had every reason to be worried that the allocated funds would end up elsewhere. I noted in my journal that Laurie Beachell, National Coordinator for the Council of Canadians with Disabilities had his own agenda, saying, “This is an advocacy initiative gone all wrong… and here we are discussing tax measures for persons with disabilities when so many are living in poverty.”

I countered with, “This is an advocacy issue that has been hugely successful… we lobbied hard and the government listened to us.” I stressed the urgency of our task, that our MPs were expecting us to fix the problems facing their constituents. I also mentioned that I was bringing boxing gloves to our next meeting.

Unlike others at the table, I was often spending seven days a week, forging ahead to help ensure a just result for people, like Jim, living with a severe mental illness. I noted my dilemma in a journal entry: 

The DTC has become more and more of an obsession. I wake up several times at night and my thoughts and dreams are dominated by the DTC. So much to do. So many people to help. So many hurdles in the way.

When I got home from Ottawa, I bought a second-hand pair of bright red EVERLAST boxing gloves for $10. At our next meeting, my colleagues took notice when I reached into my sports bag for the gloves and put them on. There were no further disagreements. We quickly got down to the business we were asked to do….

The Budget, tabled on February 23, 2005, by Finance Minister Ralph Goodale, was a huge personal victory. It had been just four years since my first meeting with Dr. Bennett in her office. Many of the 25 recommendations from our committee were adopted, either completely, or at least, to a significant degree. Taken together, tax relief for persons with disabilities and their caregivers had increased by $65 million for the 2005-2006 tax year.