I took my sons to see the movie Adventureland to give them a taste of what trying to get through University without parental support is like.

My father called me a University and asked me for cash for an oil stove because my younger brothers would sit around in their winter coats rather than split wood and light a fire. I asked him where he planned to buy it, so that I could send them a cheque. He asked me if I didn't trust him with cash. I said no, I would never trust an alcoholic with cash. He phone slammed me and bought it himself. I caught him stealing my dish washing job money from my wallet when I was 11. By 16 I was out of the house and self supporting.

After completing Secondary School I worked 12 days on, 2 days off, and 10 hour days when there was enough light, at a construction camp a mile high. After a year I had enough saved to put me through 3 years of University without student loans. That was about 3 months pay for a BC MLA, based on the Bob Williams payout.