Dylan Anthony Choquette

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The BC government has failed to ban a Kelowna man from a welfare office even though he allegedly swore at staff members and told them, "I'm going to shoot you girls."

According to a Nov. 22 BC Supreme Court decision, the West Kelowna office of the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction already had a temporary injunction against Dylan Anthony Choquette barring him from entering the Hoskins Road office.

However, the province applied to the court to make the order permanent, barring Choquette from entering the office forever.

The decision said the issues started in January 2022 when there was a "verbal altercation" with staff and they were subjected to profanities.

"The Ministry sent a letter to the defendant warning him that his behaviour was not acceptable and would not be tolerated," the decision read.

Choquette was told he could deal with third parties to access his welfare cheques.

However, Choquette kept returning.

In one instance he entered the office with a large wooden shelf and demanded his cheque. He was told he was banned from the office and to leave.

He banged the wooden shelf against a plexiglass shield on the counter and smashed it against the door when he left. He was told the RCMP had been called and he replied, "go ahead call, they won’t show up or do anything."

When the RCMP did arrive Choquette was gone.

On another occasion, Choquette tried to cash a cheque that had been cancelled and re-issued. When he was told it couldn't be cashed he became angry and swore, yelling "I’m going to shoot you girls" as he left.

By the end of 2022, there were 20 documented incidents involving the Choquette and the following year things only go a little better with six incidents.

The province then applied for a permanent injunction preventing Choquette from attending the West Kelowna office.

However, BC Supreme Court Justice Steven Wilson refused to grant the injunction.

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He said the province's evidence was all taken from the Ministry’s incident report and tracking system and not the individuals themselves.

Justice Wilson said the records were hearsay.

"There is no evidence to suggest that the evidence could not otherwise have been led by way of affidavits from the various employees. There can be no concern about anonymity for the Ministry workers because they are identified by name in the affidavit," the Justice said.

The Justice said that just because Choquette hadn't responded or opposed what the province had said in court didn't mean it was true.

"At best, the failure to respond to the notice of civil claim constitutes an admission that (Choquette) attended the Ministry Office when he knew he was prohibited from doing so. It does not inform the question of whether he is likely to continue to do," the Justice said.

Ultimately, the appeal was dismissed.

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