Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 148, Number 40: COMMISSIONS

October 4, 2014

CANADA EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE COMMISSION

EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ACT

Notice requesting comments on amending the Employment Insurance Regulations

Notice is hereby given that the Canada Employment Insurance Commission (Commission) is contemplating amending the Employment Insurance Regulations (the Regulations) to update the mechanism for the conversion of lump sum pension payments to weekly annuity amounts to be allocated for the calculation of employment insurance (EI) benefits.

Summary

Following a review of the Regulations and input from stakeholders, it has come to the attention of the Commission that the current Schedule II, which converts lump sum pensions to weekly annuity amounts, has not been updated since it was created in October 1986. In the interim, interest rates decreased from 9.5% in October 1986 to 3.0% in 2013–2014. The higher the interest rate and the older the claimant, the higher the weekly annuity amount and the amount deducted from an individual's EI benefits.

The Commission is proposing to replace the static Schedule II in the Regulations with a mechanism for calculating the weekly annuity amounts used for allocation purposes under EI. The mechanism would include a formula in the Regulations for the annual calculation of the weekly amounts using the current long-term Government of Canada benchmark bond interest rates, and would require the publication of the weekly amounts on the Service Canada Web site.

In this way, the Commission proposes to ensure that EI claimants who receive a lump sum pension will have that pension allocated against their EI benefits according to current interest rates going forward, and that the weekly annuity amounts do not become out of date but remain consistent with prevailing interest rates.

This Notice explains, in general terms, the amendments currently being considered by the Commission and requests input on those amendments.

Background

A significant proportion of Canadian workers participate in employer-sponsored retirement plans. For the most part, these are paid as pensions or as annuities. However, in some cases, workers may have the option to take their pension as a lump sum when their employment ends, such as in a pension buy-out. A small number of workers (approximately 300 individuals per year) who receive a lump sum in lieu of a pension also apply for EI benefits.

Claimants receiving a pension may also be eligible to collect EI benefits if they continue to be available for work and meet eligibility requirements. Under EI, moneys that are paid to claimants in lieu of a pension are considered earnings arising from employment and are deducted from EI benefits. Receipt of a lump sum would therefore mean significantly reduced EI benefits. To address this situation, the Regulations provide for the conversion of the lump sum to weekly annuity amounts to be allocated for each $1,000 of the lump sum. The weekly annuity amounts are included in Schedule II of the Regulations. In this way, the treatment of a lump sum pension under EI is consistent with the allocations of pensions paid as annuities.

The Schedule II weekly annuity amounts were calculated using an equation based on the age of the claimant and the long-term Government of Canada benchmark bond interest rates. Since Schedule II has not been updated since 1986, the amounts being deducted from EI claims are not in line with current interest rates. As prevailing interest rates today are lower than they were in 1986, an amendment to the calculations using the current long-term Government of Canada benchmark bond rates would mean that claimants would have less money deducted from their EI benefits than they would under the current Schedule II. Going forward, the amendments would ensure that the prevailing interest rates are used in the conversion of lump sum pensions to weekly amounts.

Proposal

In light of the above, the Commission proposes to amend subsection 36(17) of the Regulations to repeal Schedule II, include a formula in the Regulations for the annual calculation of the weekly amounts using the current long-term Government of Canada benchmark bond interest rates, and require the publication of the weekly amounts on the Service Canada Web site.

The objective of the proposed regulatory amendments is to ensure that the weekly allocation amounts reflect current interest rates.

It should be noted that the proposed regulatory changes would be corrective in nature and do not represent a new policy or approach regarding the allocation of lump sum pension amounts. The proposed amendments would simply replace the static Schedule II table with a mechanism whereby the weekly annuity amounts for allocation purposes would be calculated annually to ensure they remain consistent with current interest rates.

Coming into force

The Minister intends to seek Governor in Council approval for the Regulations to enable these changes to be applied beginning in February 2015.

Comments

Interested parties are requested to provide their comments on this Notice of Intent in writing to Helen Smiley, Director, Regulatory and Revenue Policy Design, Employment Insurance Policy Directorate, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development, 140 Promenade du Portage, 5th Floor, Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0J9, helen.smiley@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca (email), by October 19, 2014.

ANNETTE RYAN
Director General
Employment Insurance Policy Directorate
Skills and Employment Branch
Department of Employment and Social Development

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CANADA REVENUE AGENCY

INCOME TAX ACT

Revocation of registration of a charity

The following notice of proposed revocation was sent to the charity listed below revoking it for failure to meet the parts of the Income Tax Act as listed in this notice:

“Notice is hereby given, pursuant to paragraph 168(1)(b) and to subsections 168(2) and 248(1) of the Income Tax Act, that I propose to revoke the registration of the organization listed below and that the revocation of the registration is effective on the date of publication of this notice.”

Business Number Name/Address
142780725RR0001 LA FABRIQUE DE LA PAROISSE SAINT-MATTHIEU, JONQUIÈRE (QC)

CATHY HAWARA
Director General
Charities Directorate

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CANADA REVENUE AGENCY

INCOME TAX ACT

Revocation of registration of charities

The following notice of intention to revoke was sent to the charities listed below because they have not met the filing requirements of the Income Tax Act:

“Notice is hereby given, pursuant to paragraph 168(1)(c) of the Income Tax Act, that I propose to revoke the registration of the charities listed below and that by virtue of paragraph 168(2)(b) thereof, the revocation of the registration is effective on the date of publication of this notice.”

Business Number Name/Address
107021123RR0001 CHRISTMAS ISLAND VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, CHRISTMAS ISLAND, N.S.
107395089RR0001 FT. MCMURRAY SUNNY SMILES PRE-SCHOOL SOCIETY, FORT MCMURRAY, ALTA.
107951618RR0592 THE SALVATION ARMY FRASER VALLEY CORRECTIONS, CHILLIWACK, B.C.
119008720RR0001 L'ASSOCIATION DES BÉNÉVOLES DU CHSLD LES HAVRES, MONTRÉAL (QC)
127260842RR0001 WAWATAY NATIVE COMMUNICATIONS SOCIETY, SIOUX LOOKOUT, ONT.
134251289RR0001 WESTERN ARCTIC LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, FORT SMITH, N.W.T.
136664497RR0001 THEATRE IN THE ROUGH, TORONTO, ONT.
803684349RR0001 SHUSWAP PIONEER COLLECTORS CLUB, SALMON ARM, B.C.
807524467RR0001 INN OUT OF THE COLD, ST. THOMAS – ELGIN, ST. THOMAS, ONT.
808118343RR0001 LEARD'S POND (COLEMAN) ENVIRONMENT PROJECT INC., COLEMAN, P.E.I.
809124415RR0001 IT'S A DOG'S LIFE FOSTERING NETWORK INC., KEEWATIN, ONT.
810156091RR0001 CANADA-NOVA SCOTIA POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION ACCESS TRUST, DARTMOUTH, N.S.
811970698RR0001 RAY PALMER LEGACY FOUNDATION, LEWISPORTE, N.L.
812775625RR0001 ACTIONS DES IMMIGRANTS DE L'AMÉRIQUE DU NORD/ACTIONS OF THE IMMIGRANTS OF NORTH AMERICA, MONTRÉAL (QC)
813698891RR0001 THE SACRED CIRCLE PROJECT, YELLOWKNIFE, N.W.T.
813888856RR0001 NORTHERN ALBERTA LEARNING COMMUNITY SOCIETY, EDMONTON, ALTA.
814031712RR0001 SILVER LINING AUTISM COHOUSING SOCIETY, SURREY, B.C.
818392656RR0001 SUCCESSFUL TRANSITIONAL AVENUES FOR YOUTH, LANARK, ONT.
819281825RR0001 GRAND VIEW BAPTIST CHURCH OF LADNER, DELTA, B.C.
821320256RR0001 ÉGLISE ST-ÉLIE, MONTRÉAL (QC)
826591307RR0001 HIGH LEVEL PLAY ASSOCIATION, HIGH LEVEL, ALTA.
827289315RR0001 CANADIAN VIRTUAL HEALTH LIBRARY / BIBLIOTHÈQUE VIRTUELLE CANADIENNE DE LA SANTÉ, TORONTO, ONT.
828434415RR0001 ANTIGONISH SKATEPARK SOCIETY, ANTIGONISH, N.S.
834261406RR0001 ONTARIO TRAUMATIC INJURY ASSOCIATION, NEPEAN, ONT.
836917252RR0001 LITTLE BLOOMERS' LEARNING PATCH INC., BINSCARTH, MAN.
839930005RR0001 TSAWOUT SNEPENEKS CULTURAL SOCIETY, SAANICHTON, B.C.
840731418RR0001 EAGLE'S NEST YOUTH RANCH INC., PRINCE ALBERT, sASk.
840867287RR0001 FOX CREEK FOR THE CHILDREN FUNDRAISING SOCIETY, FOX CREEK, ALTA.
842112286RR0001 D & L HEALING FOUNDATION / FONDATION GUÉRISON D & L, LAVAL, QUE.
844567875RR0001 CENTRE NATIONAL DES NAUFRAGES DU SAINT-LAURENT, BAIE-TRINITÉ (QC)
846762334RR0001 SAINT KATERI CATHOLIC SCHOOL BLOOD RESERVE SOCIETY, CARDSTON, ALTA.
847271988RR0001 INTERNATIONAL PUNJABI FOUNDATION INC., MISSISSAUGA, ONT.
852798875RR0001 YUKON WILDLIFE PRESERVE OPERATING SOCIETY, WHITEHORSE, Y.T.
853298503RR0001 PLAY LEARN GROW, WHITEHORSE, Y.T.
854085446RR0001 DOWNSVIEW PARK FOUNDATION/FONDATION PARC DOWNSVIEW, TORONTO, ONT.
854183472RR0001 AMI D'ENFANCE, MONTRÉAL (QC)
855617742RR0001 LES AMIS-ES DE LAROCHELLE INC., BÉCANCOUR (QC)
860428457RR0001 PEOPLE'S ALTERNATIVE LIFE SKILL PROGRAMS INC., CORNWALL, ONT.
863072088RR0001 MAISON LE R.A.D.E.A.U., PABOS MILLS (QC)
866198401RR0001 MUTUELLE KFUMBO, VERDUN (QC)
866387665RR0001 NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR COLD OCEAN AQUARIUM ASSOCIATION INC., ST. JOHN'S, N.L.
867307720RR0001 LE CENTRE COMMUNAUTAIRE DU FAUBOURG SAINT-LAURENT, MONTRÉAL (QC)
867757700RR0001 THE THREE T FOUNDATION, TORONTO, ONT.
868004532RR0001 LOGAN LAKE HEALTH CARE SUPPORT SOCIETY, LOGAN LAKE, B.C.
869117911RR0001 TECHNOLOGY ALLIANCE GROUP FOR KAWARTHA LAKES, LINDSAY, ONT.
869312546RR0001 ELLERSHOUSE COMMUNITY HALL, ELLERSHOUSE, N.S.
869842849RR0001 SUNRISE EDUCATION TRUST, EDMONTON, ALTA.
873827190RR0001 4 WING MILITARY FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE SOCIETY, COLD LAKE, ALTA.
873962591RR0001 CHILD STUDY CENTRE PARENTS' SOCIETY (EDMONTON), EDMONTON, ALTA.
876845207RR0001 SPRINGFIELD LAKE WATCH COMMITTEE, MIDDLE SACKVILLE, N.S.
878136514RR0001 CHEDABUCTO PLACE ASSOCIATION, GUYSBOROUGH, N.S.
881629018RR0001 WHITEWATER BROMLEY COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE, COBDEN, ONT.
883813982RR0001 THE MIDDLECHURCH HOME OF WINNIPEG FOUNDATION INC., ST. PAUL, MAN.
883909301RR0001 HOPE (HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATION FOR POVERTY ELIMINATION) CANADA INC., MARKHAM, ONT.
890607518RR0001 THE NEW WESTMINSTER POLICE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C.
890823529RR0001 CLUB L'ÉTAPE MANICOUAGAN, BAIE COMEAU (QC)
893110114RR0001 ORILLIA NATIVE WOMEN'S GROUP, ORILLIA, ONT.
893521807RR0001 LES TRÉSORS DE LA GRANGE CENTRE D'ART, ARTISANAT ET ANTIQUITÉS, MAGOG (QC)
894283621RR0001 BAY OF QUINTE SAFE COMMUNITIES, BELLEVILLE, ONT.
894402908RR0001 CENTRE DE LA PETITE ENFANCE CLARA, MONTRÉAL (QC)
895793032RR0001 COLD LAKE NATIVE FRIENDSHIP CENTRE SOCIETY, COLD LAKE, ALTA.

CATHY HAWARA
Director General
Charities Directorate

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CANADIAN RADIO-TELEVISION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

NOTICE TO INTERESTED PARTIES

The Commission posts on its Web site the decisions, notices of consultation and regulatory policies that it publishes, as well as information bulletins and orders. On April 1, 2011, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure came into force. As indicated in Part 1 of these Rules, some broadcasting applications are posted directly on the Commission's Web site, www.crtc.gc.ca, under “Part 1 Applications.”

To be up to date on all ongoing proceedings, it is important to regularly consult “Today's Releases” on the Commission's Web site, which includes daily updates to notices of consultation that have been published and ongoing proceedings, as well as a link to Part 1 applications.

The following documents are abridged versions of the Commission's original documents. The original documents contain a more detailed outline of the applications, including the locations and addresses where the complete files for the proceeding may be examined. These documents are posted on the Commission's Web site and may also be examined at the Commission's offices and public examination rooms. Furthermore, all documents relating to a proceeding, including the notices and applications, are posted on the Commission's Web site under “Public Proceedings.”

CANADIAN RADIO-TELEVISION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

PART 1 APPLICATIONS

The following applications were posted on the Commission's Web site between 19 October 2014 and 25 October 2014:

Centre Wellington Community Radio Inc.
Elora, Ontario
2014-0966-5
Technical changes for CICW-FM
Deadline for submission of interventions, comments and/or answers: 27 October 2014

Four Senses Entertainment Inc.
Whistler, British Columbia
2014-0964-9
Addition of a transmitter for CKEE-FM
Deadline for submission of interventions, comments and/or answers: 27 October 2014

2190015 Ontario Inc.
Hamilton, Ontario
2014-0116-6
Amendment to a condition of licence for CHCH-DT
Deadline for submission of interventions, comments and/or answers: 24 October 2014

The Banff Centre
Banff, Alberta
2014-0940-0
Licence amendment for CFPF-FM
Deadline for submission of interventions, comments and/or answers: 23 October 2014

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CANADIAN RADIO-TELEVISION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS

25 September 2014

Hector Broadcasting Company Limited

Approved — Application to amend the technical parameters for the station.

25 September 2014

7954689 Canada inc.

Approved — Application to extend to 9 November 2015 the deadline to commence the operations of the undertaking.

25 September 2014

7954689 Canada inc.

Approved — Application to extend to 21 November 2015 the deadline to commence the operations of the undertaking.

25 September 2014

Gabriola Radio Society

Approved — Application to extend to 2 November 2015 the deadline to commence the operations of the undertaking.

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CANADIAN RADIO-TELEVISION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

DECISIONS

2014-486 22 September 2014

Leiacomm
Across Canada

Dismissed — Complaint against Bell Media Inc. alleging undue preference and disadvantage.

2014-488 23 September 2014

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Kelowna and New Denver, British Columbia
Toronto and Bancroft, Ontario

Approved — Applications to amend the broadcasting licences for the English-language radio stations CBTK-FM Kelowna and CBLA-FM Toronto in order to operate FM transmitters in New Denver and Bancroft, respectively, to replace the AM transmitters CBUI New Denver and CBLV Bancroft.

2014-489 23 September 2014

Canadian Hellenic Toronto Radio Inc.
Toronto, Ontario

Approved — Application to change the authorized contours of the ethnic commercial AM radio station CHTO Toronto.

2014-498 25 September 2014

Newcap Inc.
Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador

Approved — Application to change the authorized contours of the English-language AM radio station CFCB Corner Brook.

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NATIONAL ENERGY BOARD

APPLICATION TO EXPORT ELECTRICITY TO THE UNITED STATES

ALLETE, Inc. d/b/a Minnesota Power

By an application dated September 22, 2014, ALLETE, Inc. d/b/a Minnesota Power (the “Applicant”) has applied to the National Energy Board (the “Board”), under Division II of Part VI of the National Energy Board Act (the “Act”), for authorization to export up to 600 000 MWh of firm energy and up to 600 000 MWh of interruptible energy annually for a period of 10 years.

The Board wishes to obtain the views of interested parties on this application before issuing a permit or recommending to the Governor in Council that a public hearing be held. The directions on procedure that follow explain in detail the procedure that will be used.

  1. The Applicant shall deposit and keep on file, for public inspection during normal business hours, copies of the application at its offices located at ALLETE, Inc. d/b/a Minnesota Power, 30 West Superior Street, Duluth, Minnesota 55802, United States, and provide a copy of the application to any person who requests one. A copy of the application is available for viewing during normal business hours, by appointment, in the Board's library, at 517 Tenth Avenue SW, 2nd Floor, Calgary, Alberta T2R 0A8. To make an appointment, please call 1-800-899-1265. The application is also available online at www.neb-one.gc.ca.
  2. Submissions that any party wishes to present shall be filed with the Secretary, National Energy Board, 517 Tenth Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta T2R 0A8, 403-292-5503 (fax), and served on the Applicant by November 3, 2014.
  3. Pursuant to subsection 119.06(2) of the Act, the Board is interested in the views of submitters with respect to
    • (a) the effect of the exportation of the electricity on provinces other than that from which the electricity is to be exported; and
    • (b) whether the Applicant has
      • (i) informed those who have declared an interest in buying electricity for consumption in Canada of the quantities and classes of service available for sale, and
      • (ii) given an opportunity to purchase electricity on terms and conditions as favourable as the terms and conditions specified in the application to those who, within a reasonable time of being so informed, demonstrate an intention to buy electricity for consumption in Canada.
  4. Any answer to submissions that the Applicant wishes to present in response to items 2 and 3 of this notice of application and directions on procedure shall be filed with the Secretary of the Board and served on the party that filed the submission by November 18, 2014.
  5. For further information on the procedures governing the Board's examination, contact the Secretary of the Board at 403-292-4800 (telephone) or 403-292-5503 (fax).

SHERI YOUNG
Secretary

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PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYMENT ACT

Permission and leave granted (Bell, Scott Thomas)

The Public Service Commission of Canada, pursuant to section 116 of the Public Service Employment Act, hereby gives notice that it has granted permission, pursuant to subsection 114(4) of the said Act, to Scott Thomas Bell, Legal Counsel (LP-2), Aboriginal Law Services — Prairie Region, Department of Justice, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, to allow him to seek nomination as a candidate before and during the election period and to be a candidate before the election period in the federal election for the electoral district of Saskatoon-Grasswood, Saskatchewan, to be held on October 19, 2015.

The Public Service Commission of Canada, pursuant to subsection 114(5) of the said Act, has also granted a leave of absence without pay during the election period, effective at close of business on the first day the employee is a candidate during the election period.

September 22, 2014

SUSAN M. W. CARTWRIGHT
Commissioner

D. G. J. TUCKER
Commissioner

ANNE-MARIE ROBINSON
President

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