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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2001-06-27, Page 8IMPORTANT CHANGES TO THE EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM The Government of Canada has made changes to Employment Insurance (El) to support Canadian families and to ensure that Canadians who need El will have access to an improved program. WHAT'S NEW • There is no more intensity rule.* Now all El claimants will receive at least 55% of their maximum insurable earnings. Retroactive to October 1, 2000. • The benefit repayment (clawback) provision is no longer applicable for claimants who receive maternity, parental and sickness benefits, first-time claimants and claimants who make less than $48,750 net annual income. Retroactive to the 2000 taxation year. • Parents who took extended absences from the workforce to care for young children may now be able to qualify for El regular benefits like other workers. Retroactive to October 1, moo. • Self-employed fishers can now benefit fully from the changes made to maternity, parental and sickness benefits. Retroactive to December 31, 2000. AUTOMATIC RETROACTIVE PAYMENTS Since mid-June, Human Resources Development Canada has been automatically issuing retroactive payments for adjustments to El claims affected by the changes. The Canada Customs and Revenue Agency will forward retroactive payments for clawback (2000 taxation year) automatically in about two months. • The intensity rule, which gradually reduces the basic benefit rate of 50'9, for frequent El users, proved lo be ineffective and was removed. For a brochure on El changes call toll-free 1 Boo 0-Canada 800 622-6232) or visit our Web site at: www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca Users of TTY/TTD devices dial: s 800 465 -7735 I+. Human Resources Developpement des Development Canada ressources humalnes Canada v_,ana(rai Whitewashed Dedicated folk were helping to give the Blyth's Legion Branch a sprucing up last Wednesday night with a new paint job. PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2001. Pike excited about direction hospital's going By Jim Brown Wingham Advance-Times Bob Pike is excited about the path the Wingham and District Hospital Board has taken and the direction the hospital is going. The out-going chairman of the hospital's board of gover- nors said he was on the board back in the 1980s as-Well as again in the 1990s. These are amazing times for health care in Ontario and the number of volunteers have greatly helped. He noted being a volunteer is a reward- ing experience. "These volunteers are peo- ple who are committed to the community and the future of health care." The board has faced differ- ent challenges during the past five years, but with the help of the Huron Perth Hospitals Partnership these challenges have been met. One of the greatest accom- plishments is that the hospital is still here and open. "We have positioned ourself to meet the challenges," he said. "We have a clinic which is basically full." Pike indicated the Wirigham and District Health Centre has been renovated in order to accommodate another physi- cian. The installation of an air conditioning unit in the hospi- tal has greatly benefitted both the patients and the staff. According to Pike, the hos- pital is receiving five per cent less provincial funding than it did in 1992-93. However, he notes all programs and servic- es have been kept going. He added the hospital is receiving 50 per cent more patient visits than it did in 1992-93. The hospital has been able to meet this greater demand on its physicians and services. The major focus for the hos- pital at the present time is quality -- which means the quality care of the patients. All hospitals in the partner- ship have completed their own clinical plans which have standards set for quality. One initiative this year was the repatriation program to bring patients back to Wingham from tertiary care centres in the urban centres. Funding for the program has been confirmed and should be implemented in the fall. Pike said this will allow patients to recuperate closer to home. The out-going chairman said he is excited about the adv.incements in technolo- gy.. New digital imaging equip ment will soon be installed at the Wingham hospital. This equipment will provide a bet-ter level of service as physi- cians will now be able to look at a high-resolution image. "This is better than .an x- ray." said Pike. The hospital will 'be linked to experts so they can look at the image as well, which will give Wingham access to spe- cialists in other locations via the technology without the need of travel. He noted that all hospitals will be linked up to the pro- gram. Pike stated the partnership has alliances with other health care . providers such as the University of Western Ontario in London. The hospital partnership is leading the way throughout the province in regards to hos- pitals working together. Wingham 'is fortunate to be a part of the partnership. When the partnership first began it focused on stream- lined administrative structures to reduce overhead costs. The CEO and the executive team are now deIeloping a new, innovative network model for the integrated deliv- ery of rural hospital health care for the people of Huron and Perth. The work of the partnership is being heralded throughout the province by the health services restructuring com- mission. "It is exciting to see doctors across the partnership work- ing together." said Pike. He noted the Wingham hos- pital has been greatly strengthened by its participa- tion in the HPHP and although there are many challenges ahead, it is well-positioned to continue its vital role in the communities it serves. Pike indicated the people of the hospital have responded well to the stressful times of the past year and the physi- cians and staff are the hospi- tal's greatest assets. Wingham hospital ends year with modest surplus By Jim Brown Wingham Adrance-Times The Wingham and District Hospital ended the fiscal year with a modest surplus. Executive and finance com- mittee chairman Judith Gaunt reported to the annual meet- ing of the hospital last Thursday that the hospital had originally submitted a deficit operating plan of $295,000 for the 2000-2001 fiscal year. Over the course of the year, the Ministry of Health increased the hospital's oper- ating funds by $249,500 so the plan projected a deficit of $45,500. "Operationally, we actually ended the year with a modest surplus of $118,000," stated Gaunt. "This was achieved despite the fact that we con- tinued to support physician emergency on-call coverage and absorbed tremendous unexpected costs for heating and snow removal over the past winter." The major capital project completed this year was the installation of an air condi- tioning system in the north wing. Gaunt said the Hospital Foundation has contributed $600,000 towards the pur- chase of digital imaging equipment. The total cost of the equipment is almost $1 million. "Our financial position is solid at this time," she stated. On-going challenges in the coming years will be antici- pated as the costs of drugs, technology, wage settlements, fuel and hydro continue to increase. The hospital is preparing for the initiation of a new funding model and a two-to-three- year timeframe for operations planning. "This will challenge us to achieve efficiencies against different benchmarks," stated Gaunt. "As the costs of health care continue to rise across the country, we will be held more accountable, as gover- nors, for providing prudent leadership for our communi- ty." Kidney disease strikes families, not only individuals. Please give generously. '7 1.7 ..t• 4'400 www.kidney.ca