My take on taxes, the social contract and giving people a hand up. First, I don’t think anyone *likes* paying taxes. Well, except for @mcuban . In the ‘90s I didn’t pay taxes since I was mostly reliant on the state. I had a couple of kids and was raising them mostly alone. /1

If you’ve never gone hungry or didn’t know how rent was getting paid or you couldn’t afford diapers, you have no idea how utterly exhausting and demoralizing it is to be poor. I was completely broken by the system. Everything was a struggle. I didn’t know how to keep going. /2

A minor setback like an NSF bank charge could take months to financially recover from. In the spring of ‘97, I broke down. I was sobbing sitting on the floor of my kitchen while trying to entertain my toddler. It was then I realized that education was my only way out. /3

Fast forward a couple years. I was enrolled in a BA program. I had student loans, grants, SA in between semesters, food bank, subsidized daycare (no payment), subsidized housing (below market rent). And I had the Child Tax Benefit (now the CCB). We were just scraping by. /4

But we did it. The sacrifices were immense-the ones my kids made, too. Got a job on Parliament Hill, packed up and drove from BC to Ottawa where we didn’t know a soul. I was 32, with 2 kids, a professional job and *just* earning enough to pay the bills. Did a post-grad year. /5

Paid off my $80K in student loans at 45. At 50, I opened my consulting firm. This is where that social contract reference comes in. I recognize my story may be atypical, I get that. But the fact that I had an opportunity to not only change my circumstance but to succeed… /6

despite my situation speaks volumes. Had I been in Ontario at the time of Mike Harris rather than in BC I’m highly doubtful I’d have had the same opportunity. During those years in university, I became politically active and passionate about post secondary education. /7

The conservative mayor of my small town told me that “education is like cable tv, if you can afford it, you can get it.” That is *not* who we should ever be. Apropos of nothing, a few years later that mayor went to jail for fraud and forgery. 🤷🏻‍♀️ /8

For prob close to a decade, my little family was subsidized by tax payers and I am forever grateful to have been given an opportunity to achieve beyond my wildest dreams. I’ve worked hard but without the system in place to help with a hand up I’ve no idea where I’d be now. /9

@lisakirbie Bravo - it still wouldn’t have happened without your determination and hard work. These programs don’t make it easy but a make it possible for many. Thanks for sharing your story (and suggest deleting if the sharks start mistaking it for chum).

@JL_Braden Thanks, Janice. It was definitely an uphill battle trying to line up all the resources, and fighting a system designed to not be easy. There were many times I wanted to give up but I didn’t view it as having a choice. It wasn’t just for me to have a better life, but the kids, too

@lisakirbie Wow, Lisa, what a warrior you are. Thank you for this inspiring and touching thread. Women. Where the power truly lies.

@Tintie4 Thanks, Cynthia. I was really privileged to have amazing mentors along the way. Especially the conservative poli sci prof who challenged me and made me the political junkie I am today.

@lisakirbie Super thread.

@lisakirbie The safety net is an investment. A hand up not a hand out.