Wa WL OR DS lp Wd Wednesday, December 7, 1988 In. an election dominated almost exclusively by debate over free trade, it was refreshing to see at least one announcement that really meant something to someone. Without much fanfare or hoopla, the Tories sent out a statement to the press saying that | premiums on unemployment insurance would be slashed by 17 per cent and bencfits would be raised to a maximum of $363 a week effective Jan. 1. Although the good news on the uncmployment insurance front. came in the latter stages of the campaign, both employers and ‘employees have something ‘to cheer about after the Nov. 21 election. For employees (who pay pro- portionately less than employ- Whenever you’ snap the child- ~ proof cap on a pill bottle, help your little one put on a hockey helmet or turn on your furnace thermostat, you benefit from the protection of safety standards... of this, standardized products arc used many times every day. Are you planning to stock 'up on will help ‘you: select the, most : » appropriate, Sct. s : box.” "for the right place... : Standards suchas ‘these. are communities across Canada. tions on planned standards. ~ These volunteers, from diverse ficlds,. work together. to come up: with standards that protect us from ance of products and services, versary. of the National Standards System, a. federation created. in 1973 by. the Standards Council of Canada, The council is responsi- if ble for. the promotion and coordin- : ation of standards evelopment in Canada. ; | gift. . While most people aren’t aware | Christmas ‘lights for, your tree or . ' front of the house? If so, standards - ~" published ‘by specialized organiza- ~~ ». tions, and prepared with the help ‘of some 10,000 volunteers: from. “Many other Canadians participate ‘in consumer. advisory panels: which meet regularly inmost. major citics to make recommenda- injury and measure the perform: °- This year. marks the 1Sth.anni- { ers), the weekly premiums will drop to $1.95 from $2.35 per $100 of insurable earnings while the contributions of employers” will drop to $2.73 from $3.29 per $100 of ensured carnings. And for unemployed workers, the maximum weckly benefits available under UI will be $24 above the current maximum of $339. Then minister of Employment and Immigration, Barbara McDougall, also announced that the national unemployment insurance fund will show a sur- plus of $422-million at the end of 1988 despite the changes. This marks a massive reduction in the cumulative deficit in the Ul account which stood at $4.5- billion at the end of 1984. Sound too good to be true? Four years ago the answer would The system brings together some 50 organizations. that write stan- dards, certify products: to these standards or test products. -~ _ We’ve all seen the CSA mark on electrical cords, ULC on fire extin-: guishers or CGA on propane tanks. ‘ These are certification marks, and - ~ they say that experts. working for ‘one: of Canada’s five accredited certification organizations have “put the product through its paces “in -ways specified by: a standard or ‘a number of standards. : Take the example. of a smoke Their. intended. nee: indoor or’ alarm. The standard for these — ' outdoor — is marked 4 right on the ~ devices specifies that they should .- : ©s havea. maximum: rtare Tate of. Howes iv’ A up: to 5 you ‘tom nake -.- four per million. hours. _ sure: you use the right type of set Lo It: requires ‘that the alarin be. “tested: ‘with: smoke from. various’ ‘sources, and under conditions of. - prolonged exposure to heat and humidity. : : “The standard even specifies that ~ the alarm. be “provided with. means for deterring the entry of have been ‘“‘yes.”” Canadians, however, have grudgingly learned to accept the. downside of this enormously expensive. — and often abused — social program. John Bulloch, president of the Canadian Federation of Inde- pendent Business, says the upcoming changes will be partic- ularly well reccived by the small and medium-sized business com- munity. Entrepreneurs, he says, have traditionally been the hard- est hit by this program. ness, after all, which shoulders a disproportionate share of the overall payroll tax burden has made it clear that relief is desper- ately needed. Add to that the reduced pay- ments by employees and the increased benefits for uncmp- loyed workers: and it scems that Canadians finally had a winner. It’s too bad that one of the very few win-win scenarios in this » election was somchow lost in the battle for the hearts and minds of Canadians. But for small busi- ness — the main engine of job creation in this country — the UI turnaround came not a minute too soon. insects into those parts of-the unit - which require protection.” The ULC certification mark on a smoke detector confirms that. the unit has been tested and meets all. requirements .of the appucabie standard. - -The same goes for any. product bearing the mark of Canadian Standards Association, CGA, Can- © adian Gas Association, Council of Forest Industries and Warnock Hersey. Professional Services. _ Standards for: some products, such ‘as electrical appliances, are: made mandatory by the provincial. Or federal: government.. In these - cases, you’re'unlikcly to’ find prod- - soeucts: without™a- certification label, but. iv’ 8. still a: good idea to check for One. which. is the case .for several” products. such as bicycle, helmets; oe | GLASS & UPHOLSTERY CALL US FOR: | _ WINDSHIELD REPAIR. ICBC CLAIMS _- PROMTLY HANDLED » ire ; . | fl . WINDSHIELO REPAIRS i | i (; MONS (COG APPROVED a & REPLACEMENT . AND ALL YOUR . GLASS SS NEEDS | ‘Kids & Mom! | Meet PAT CARFRA the Lullaby Lay mae music at TANNERS — " SATURDAY, December 10 at 1 p.m: en A perfect Cc hristmas a ‘SONGS KOR SLEEPYHE ADs LUI JLLABIES \ 8 & LAU G JIGHTER BABE S, BE MASTS, & BIRDS . ( assette al ly ries Sheet. A BOOKSTORE & MORE eT) AVE., SIDNEY, B. C. VOL 1X6 650 62085 0 0 IDi er ve IN EEA OOH RE ~Council:of Canada =.» Lond 50: Suite. 1200; . AL . ; Ottawa, Ontario. KIP 6N7.- Sera * Sometimes’ products ‘lip into: : the Canadian Anarkelplace: without : certification. “When certification is voluntary, “As a result of the jobs being Created by small and medium- sized firms, the government has been able to wipe out one of the most onerous ‘debts in exist- ence,” Bulloch said. “It is only reasonable that the federal government compensate small business for its contribu- tions to the economy.” CFIB estimates that for employers, the revamped UI sys- tem will translate into an approx- imate $100 per year, per employee savings. As 4 result, cach worker earn- ing, for example $15,000 per year will save the employer $112; four. workers, $448 per year; and 10 workers, $1,120. Regardless of who or. where this announcement came from, all Canadians should be relicved tO sec some progress at long last being made in this direction. For years now, the costs associated with funding the unemployment insurance system in this counuy have been exorbitant — most recently to the tune of $11l- billion. Therefore, focusing on the UI deficit makes. sense; small busi- _ there may be many ‘uncertified items available. It’s then up to you to. look for the mark. . Standards make their way invisi- bly under our Christmas trees, into our home appliances, in our “offices and cars, into our clothes and almost everywhere else where there is a need for-safety, dependa- : bility and practicality. If you would like to know more _ about standards and certification,