THE RIDICULOUS FEDERAL BENEFITS TRIBUNAL

OTTAWA — Some disabled Canadians fighting for government benefits are being forced by a federal tribunal to hire lawyers, a move that has baffled advocates and appears to fly in the face of Liberal plans for the appeals body.
"How are they supposed to afford a lawyer? It's just ridiculous," said James Hicks, national co-ordinator of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities.
"If you don't have to bring lawyers to the first two levels of appeal, why would you have to bring one to the last? It's not a legal issue, it's a qualification issue."