Wednesday, January 15, 1997 — North Shore News - 25 15th St., North Vancouver, is sponsoring a Warm For more information call 926-5541. cael Clothing Drive on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 12 to 3 p.m. Organizers are asking people to plunge into their basements, closets, and storage areas to rescue and recycle long forgorten items that would be per- fect donations. Blankets, sweaters and coats rop the list of most-needed items, which will be given to the Lookout Aid Society at 429 St. in Vancouver. NATURAL WONDERS: North Shore nature lovers are invited to learn about the trees of B.C.’s coastal rain forests and to search for some of the huge trees remaining in Stanley Park. Narure inter- preters will guide walks starting rain or shine, from the Stanley Park Nature House on Losr Lagoon at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 19. The walks are “casy” say organizers, last two hours, and are limited to 14 participants. All ages are welcome; however, pre- registration is required. Contact Jennifer Swanston, Stanley Park Nature House, 257-8544. ees VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: The Vancouver Aquarium welcomes volunteers. Call Kathryn Behrisch at 631-2551 for details. FUN AT THE EARM: Maplewood Farm, located at 405 Seymour River Place, North Vancouver, wel- SLAM DUNK DUDES: The YMCA has limited : comes all visitors. For information regarding special space available for grades two through five in the COMMUNITY KINDNESS NEEDED: The Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 118, 123 West _ Are we now counting hours instead of ‘weeks? . Yes. Every paid hour of work will count to ‘qualify for El. A minimum of 420 to 790 hours ~ -(which is the equivalent cf 12 to 20 weeks of 35 hours each) will be required, depending on the unemploymem rate in your region. if you are filing a claim after your first job, or after an absence of 2 years or more from the workforce, you now require 910 hours to qualify. To qualify for sickness, maternity or parental '... - benefits, a minimum of 700 hours of work is i: Fequired. -- How long can I receive EI? : . The number of weeks payable is 14 to 45, depending on the number of hours of _ insurable employment and the rate of © unemployment in your. area. ° “Hf Lwork 15 hours or less a week, am I now ~ covered by El? Yes. There are no longer any weekiy ‘, “minimum hours or dollars required to have we insurable employment. All hours of work will count, and premiums will be payable on 5 every doliar earned. However, if you earn - $2,000 or less a year, your premiums will be refunded when yeu file your income tax ‘return. . The method of reporting employment history has been revised under the new Employment Insurance System. The Government of . Canada and employers have worked together to come up with an easier reporting system. ~ An information package has been sent to all ~-employers. tf you have not received one, contact your nearest Human Resource Centre of Canada. sn Under El, claimants who commit fraud now face stiffer rules. More hours of work wil! be required to qualify for future claims, and tiriancial penalties may increase. - call toll free 1 800 276-7655 to receive a brochure on Canada’s new Employment Insurance system (TTY 1 800 465-7735; Human Resources Development Canada a+ Youth Basketball Canada League. Participation involves one practice and one game per weck. North and West Vancouver locations are available. Does past receipt of El benefits affect future claims? Yes. The normai benefit rate is 55% of your insured earnings. This could bs reduced by 1% for every 20 weeks claimed from July 1996. The maxirnum that the benefit rate can be reduced to, is 50% after 100 weeks claimed. This adjustment to the benefit rate is cailed the intensity rule. Fiemember: The intensity rute does not apply to people receiving the Family Supplement, sickness, maternity or parental benefits. Who can receive the new Family Supplement? Claimants with children and a family income under $25,921, who also receive the Child Tax Banefit are entitled to the new Family “ Supplement. Eligidle ciaimants will receive up to 65% of their insurable carn However, the maximum benefit still remains $413 a week for all claimants. Will there be any change to my El premium deductions as of January? Yes. The El premium rate for 1997 is lower than last year. However, as of January you may notice a difference in the way your premium is deducted over the course of the year. There is no lon-jer a weekly maximum of $750 on your WHAT'S NEW FOR EMPLOVERS?: What is different about the Record of Employment? In general, for each employee, you will have to report oniy the following: the first and last day of work, the total hours worked in the pay periods in the last 53 wéexs, and the total insurable earnings for the last 27 weeks. What is the new hours-based system? As of January 1, 1997, every hour worked and paid is insurable, which means that earnings of al! workers are now insurable. Employers who engage in fraud will also face stricter financial penaities — which can be up to $12,000 per offence or the total of claimant penalties in collusion cases. * visit your nearest Human Resource Centre of Canada listed in the Government of Canada pages of your telephone book under Human Resources Development Canada. Développement des ressources humaines Canada events and hours, call 929-5610. insurable earnings. Premiums are now payable on every doilar you earn up to the the yearly maximum of $39,000. Once you have reached $39,000, you will not have to pay any more premiums. For example, if your sslary is $58,500 a year, you will pay all your El premiums in the first eight months and none for the rest of the year. Am } allowed to earn more than before without losing benefits? - Yes. All claimants, regardiess of their income, can earn $60 a week, or 25% of their regular benefit, whichever.is greater, without facing any joss of benefits. What are the new re-employment benefits? --The Government of Canada is working with the provinces and territories to put in place new re-employment benefits to heip Canadians get back to work. These Gensfits may include: Targeted Wage Subsia:c..to encourage employers to provide an-the-job experience leading to long-term employment; Self-employment Assistance, to help unemployed people start their own businesses; Job Creation Partnerships, local partnerships to create work opportunities and sustainable jobs in your community. Are premiums now calculated differently? Yes. They are now calculated on each dollar of insurable earnings to an annual maximum - of $39.000, instead of a weekly maximum. What is the New Hires Program? If you are a smal?! employer veho paid less than £60,000 in employer's premiums in 1996, you will be entitied to a refund in 1997 and 1998, if your overali premium bill goes up by $250.00 or more. If claimants or employers make an honest mistake and forget to give us information, it is not too late to provice it. Under our disclosure policy, we can waive any penalty or prosecution, if the matter is not already under investigation. * look on the Internet at http:/Awww.hrde-drhe.ae.ca' — Compiled by Ann Hamilton