HELP’S AT Hand, by North Shore Community Services (NSCS), is a forum for discussing government policies and = pro- grams, benefits, consumer and legal rights, taxation and public services. Answers are intended only as a general guide and should not be applied to individual cases without further consultation. Question: Pve heard that need a social insurance number if I want to get a job. How do I get one, and what is the aumber for? Answer: A social insurance number (SIN) is assigned to you by the federal government. It is a nine-digit number printed on a plastic card with your name. You are right thas you will need a social insurance number to work. It is used as an identifica- tion number when you deal with employers and taxes, When you work you will have income Tax, Canada Pension and Unemployment Insurance con- tribivions deducied from your cheque by your employer. Employers need your number when they report your contribu- tions to ihe government. If you are under 18, you will not have to pay income tax deductions unless you earn more than the basic personal exemption. This refers to an amount that people are allowed to earn without paying taxes. Member Organizations: © BC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE » BC READY-MIXED CONCRETE ASSOCIATION © BC ROADBUILDERS AND HEAVY CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION © BC & YUKON HOTELS ASSOCIATION © BUILDING OWNERS AND MANAGERS ASSOCIATION OF BC ¢ CANADIAN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION © CANADIAN COUNCIL OF GROCERY DISTRIBUTORS © CANADIAN FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS ¢ CANADIAN MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION © CANADIAN STEEL SERVICE CENTRE INSTITUTE © COUNCIL OF TOURISM ASSOCIATIONS OF BC ¢ DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER ASSOCIATION ¢ ELECTRONIC MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION OF BC ¢ GREENHOUSE, NURSERY PRODUCERS AND WHOLESALERS OF BC ¢ INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS AND -BUSINESS ASSOCIATION ® RETAEL COUNCIL OF CANADA © RETAIL MERCHANTS’ ASSOCIATION OF BC ¢ URBAN DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE & VANCOUVER BOARD OF TRADE © VANCOUVER PARKING ASSOCIATION ¢ HELP’S For people under 18, the cur- rent’ basic persona) exemption amount is $6,456. You will, how- ever, pay Unemployment In- surance contributions. Canadian citizens, tanded im- migrants, refugees, and visitors on student work visas can qualify for a social insurance number. There are no age restrictions, You can apply for a job and even start working before you receive your SIN. You have 15 days to apply for your card from the time your employer asks for your SIN number. The application form for a SIN is available from any Canada Employment Centre (CEC). The same form can be used if you are Bill 84...Unfair, Wednesday, December 46, 1992 — North Shore News - 85 HAND replacing a lost SEN card or if you want to change your name on your card. You will need to provide one Piece of identification with your application form. Depending on your situation, this could be a birth certificate, a Canadian im- migration record and visa. refugee status claim, a visitor record or student authorization. CEC can also suggest other documents. ac- ceptabie as identification: You can submit the completed form in person or by mail. If you mail your’ application you will have to enclose your identification documents. They will not accept photoconies unless you have them certified by a notary public. a commissioner for taking oaths, or a CEC officer. . There is no charge for your first SIN card. You will receive the card in three to four weeks. On the North Shore, the Canada Employment Centre is located at 126 East 15th St. in North Vancouver. Their phone number is 988-1151. Other CEC offices can be found in the Blue Pages of the telephone book under Government of Canada, Employment and Im- migration. This column is prepared with financial assistance from the Notary Foundation. For more in- formation call NSCS at 985-7138. unbalanced and unrealistic Small and medium-sized businesses create 90% of the new jobs in today's economy. With that kind of success, you'd think that the Harcourt government would listen to the reasonable concerns that these women and men have about Bill 84, the provincial government's new labour law. Bill 84 all but takes away a worker's right to a secret ballet vote on union certification. The bill leaves BC's smail and medium-sized businesses wide-open to the threat of =~ secondary boycotts that could force them to unionize just to do business with the government or unionized companies. Maybe an open door, but not an open mind The Premier boasted that his “door was open." The Coalition of BC Businesses, representing more than 36,G00 small and medium-sized companies across BC, has put forward some. positive suggestions to improve Bill 84. Constructive solutions...offered in good faith to the government. These ideas are practical wavs to create a better labour law...a law that would truly help create a stable environment for economic recovery and jobs. . . Harcourt and Sihota ® d e e just dont get it Small and medium-sized businesses don't want to get special treatment, they want fair treatment. All they want is a chance to do what they do best, and that's create jobs and a strong economy for our province. Based on their record of creating jobs, why won't the politicians listen to the people who really know how the economy runs? Make your voice heard... Phone Premier Harcourt at 253-7905 and Labour Minister Moe Sihota at 387-1986 (collect) and speak out for a better labour law, one that's truly fair and balanced for small and medium-sized businesses. Sponsored by the Coalition of BC Businesses...Representing over 36,000 small and medium-sized businesses across BC.