50 - Wednesday, March 11, 1992 - North Shore News RE a a I Ee 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: I've been hearing a lot about something called dizect deposit for government cacques. if I did something ike this, wouldn't I be losing control of my money? How do | find out more? Answer: Direct deposit is a new government service that anyone receiving federal government che- HELP’S AT HANI ques, which include Old Age Se- curity, Canada Pension Plan and Family Allowance, can requesi and obtain, free of charge. Instead of having your cheque mailed to your home, it would be mailed to your bank and depos- ited into your bank account, as specified on your application form. Deposits can be made to the ac- count of your choice at any bank, credit union, trust company. or other financial institution located in Canada. Some people have found that the system works well with them. Others, like yourself, feel a loss of control over their money. Even though the cheque is Group aims to dispel myths about infertility ACCORDING TO national health statistics, for every five Canadian couples who are planning to have children, one couple will find out they are infertile. By Anna Marie D’Angelo News Reporter Infertility Awareness Associa- tion .of Canada (IAAC) spokesmen Marie Morrisey said one cf her group’s aims was to dispel myths that include infertili- ty is a rare condition. “There are a lot of myths, and another one is that infertility is a female factor,” said Morrisey. According to JAAC, infertility is due to a female factor in 35% of cases, 35% it a male factor and 25% of the time, a problem is found in both the male and fe- male partners. Only 5% of infer- tility cases can not be medically explained. Morrisey is the founder of IAAC and the Ottawa resident was in Vancouver recently to discuss her group and help reach the estimated 500,000 Canadians experiencing infertility. She began the group in 1990 after experiencing infertility and finding out there was no formal support group available for the condition despite the large numbers of couples waiting to see various specialists for infertility. Morrisey said the closest infer- tility support group to the North Shore is located in Cloverdale (phone is 576-0037) and she would like more chapters estab- lished in the Vancouver area so they can network information. “‘Safertility is a life crisis. It is a very personal and private matter and you will have people that may 67, EVERYTHING IN THE STORE | AT. MARCH 14 ONLY OFF § IAAC spokesmen Marie Mor- risey be giving advice that is well meant but is hurtful,’’ said Morrisey. Morrisey now has two primary school-age children, one is her biological child and the other child is adopted. IAAC defines infertility has the inability for a couple to conceive a child after one year of un- protected intercourse or the in- ability to carry a pregnancy to full term. The self-help support group for infertile couples is currently in- volved in producing a video outlining medical procedures complete with estimates of the time that it takes to go through all the diagnostic stages. For more information, call IACC’s toll free number, !-800- 263-2929 which will be available for a limited time or write [AAC at 104 1785 Alta Vista Dr., Ot- tawa Ontario, K1G 3Y6. _ ANNIVERSARY Ot Proce FREE guinea pig, hamster mice, gerbil, regular budgie, or finches for every INstOCK fefuacen anima! kit purchased - offer good while supply lasts NORTH VAN PET CENTRE YY 1927 Lonsdale Ave., North Van. 986-5314 B 1058 Ridgewood Dzive automatically deposited into your ezsonal account, it can feel Strange to never have had your hands on it. This is one of the many ways in which our means of handling money are changing. You can recall the introduction of the automatic teller machines (ATM) and how many people felt that dealing with a machine, instead of a person, was unacceptabie. Remember that like the ATM, direct deposit is a completely cp- tional program and one that you are not obliged to sign up for. If you do decide to try it, keep in mind that you can cancel the ser- vice at any time, but you wil! have to fill out a new form. ans gs + One of the advantages of the direct deposit system is that in the event of illness or vacation people are assured that their cheques are being deposited safely. The system could even be regarded as a savings and budgeting technique. For example, requesting that the Family Allow- ance cheques be directly deposited inte a savings account could help to ensure that the money is saved and not spent. Recent government cheques have enclosed an application form which you can fill out if you want to wy direct deposit. You will need to allow two to three months for processing. Revenue Canada is also offering ign ed Ke ey ASIN. direct deposit service for income tax refunds, Goods and Services Tax credis and advanced child tax credits. You -ill find the TI-DD re- quest form for this service in your _ income ‘ax package. If you choose this option, you ‘sill still be mail- ed a notice of your tax assess- ment. Vf you have any questions about your income tax return, govern- ment benefits, or direct deposit, keep in mind that our office is of- fering « free income tax prepara- | tion service to North Shore resi- dents en low income. This column is prepared with financiai assistance from the Notary l-oundation. Fellowship can mean a lot more than eating out with the gang. Above all else, your local church is a place of coramunity and fellowship. A place to meet and share more than you can find on a night out. Isn’t it time you thought about that part of you which thirsts for something more? Show your spirit. Come back to church. The Anglican Church For more information call 684-6306 or outside Vancouver 1-800-665-1165 re NORTH ST. FRANCIS-IMTHEWOOD 4773 South Piccadilly Rd. 922-3531 ST. AGNES 530 East 12th Street ST. CATHERINES 987-0432 985.0666 RS EP? SHORE ANGLICAN CHURCHES ST. CLEMENTS 3400 Institute 988-4418 ST. KOHN THE EVANGELiST 220 West Sch Street 986-1151 ST. SIMONS 1384 Deep Cove Road 929-5350 ST. CHRISTOPHER'S 1068 fngiewood Ave. 922-5323 ST. MARTINS 195 Bast Windsor ST. RICHARDS 1398 West 15th Street ST. STEPHEN’S : 835-22nd si 985-5919 987-0314 926-438) oa ESR Oe i ed sett ET SEN | MAES TES Aaya