When the Ontario government, under the leadership of Mike Harris, introduced a new welfare policy, there was no shortage of protest.

Former premier Harris cut back welfare benefits sharply, and later introduced a policy of drug testing for recipients who were plagued by addictions to alcohol and illegal drugs. The addictions policy - which was first outlined in 1995 in the Tory pre-election policy manual known as the 'blueprint' - raised the ire of social activists. Critics felt mandatory drug testing and treatment was an attack on the poor.

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