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 Karl Rosier was convinced he and his son, Isaac, 12, were about to be evicted after the Family Responsibility Office froze his bank account because he was allegedly behind on child support for the son who lives with him. (CHRIS DOUCETTE/QMI Agency) |
TORONTO - Karl Rosier and his 12-year-old son were on the verge of being evicted from their new apartment, but they're breathing a little easier thanks to an 11th-hour decision by the Family Responsibility Office to return the East York man's assets.
The 34-year-old says he tried repeatedly to explain to the government agency, which accused him of owing $10,141 in child support, that his son lived with him and he couldn't provide for him if his bank account was frozen.
But it seems staff at FRO were unconcerned about leaving a single dad penniless, until QMI Agency pointed out the error of their ways.
"They're returning all of my money, they're sending it by courier tomorrow," an extremely relieved Rosier said Thursday afternoon. "I'm so happy."
The young dad was under a great deal of stress since last week when his bank account was unexpectedly frozen and all of his money seized by FRO, including his pay cheque.
And while Rosier admits he has made some wrong choices over the years that are partly responsible for his current situation, he is still "stunned" that anyone would think it was okay to punish his son for his mistakes.
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Rosier said his son, Isaac, lived with his mother sporadically over the years, mainly while he was incarcerated for non-violent crimes.
"But I've always been involved with my son and supported him financially," he said.
In 1999, he was ordered to pay $75 a month in child support.
Rosier claims he spent much more than that amount on his son every month, but he never gave any money directly to his ex because their child split his time between the two parents' homes.
In August 2009, Rosier's ex signed an agreement that allowed Isaac to live with his dad full-time.
The single father admits he finally starting making the right choices and good things began happing for him and his son.
For the first time in his life he found a good paying job with benefits.
"We were finally able to do the things we always wanted to do," Rosier said.
Rosier, who also raps under the stage name Berg Beauge, even joined forces with Toronto Police and several other rappers last summer to record some public service announcements as part of this summer's TAVIS initiative.
But then out of nowhere on Nov. 30, 2010, Rosier received a letter from FRO, a provincial agency, accusing him of being in arrears.
A little over two months later, his account was frozen.
"For them to just arbitrarily take everything, it's just crazy!" he said.
FRO spokesman Sandy Mangat said she was unable to talk about the specifics of Rosier's case because of privacy concerns.
But she did say FRO has "the ability to apply discretion in cases where circumstances warrant it."
chris.doucette@sunmedia.ca