Voice of Business: Employment Insurance Premium Rates Planned to Increase

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The costs of many things have gone up, sometimes dramatically, in the last year or so.

Interest rates, fuel, insurance, and wages are just a few cost increases hitting businesses. Now, Employment Insurance Premium rates are planned to increase.

The EI program is designed to be self-sustaining. The Canada Employment Insurance Commission sets annual rates based on a seven-year break-even forecast. Increases in unemployment and temporary support programs introduced during the pandemic have led to a forecasted cumulative deficit of $18.8 billion on Dec. 31.

Employers pay 1.4 times the employee rate. The Canada Employment Insurance Commission is recommending employers pay $2.32 per $100 of insurable earnings, up from $2.28. Employees would also see a larger portion of their paycheque go to EI.

In response to this, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce has issued a letter to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland and Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages Randy Boissonnault.

RE: Potential 2024 Increase in EI Premiums

Dear Ministers,

I’m writing to express our concern about the potential 2024 increase in EI Premiums. EI is a critical program delivered by the federal government. It supports the livelihoods of Canadians and communities during periods of lost income. Temporary program changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic created a significant deficit that according to the 2023 Actuarial Report on the Employment Insurance Premium Rate led the EI Operating Account to a projected cumulative deficit of $25.2 billion by the end of 2023.

Employers understand that EI is an important temporary job-loss protection program and want to ensure it is effective in supporting their employees during periods of transition. However, increases to EI premiums are effectively a tax on employers who pay a disproportionate amount into the program. Increases to EI premiums must take into account the economic challenges faced by businesses in Canada today, and into the future.

High interest rates, inflation and increased labour costs are making it difficult for small and medium-sized businesses to keep their heads above water. Due to continued strength of the labour market, Budget 2023 stated that the EI Premium Rate would hold steady at $1.63 per $100 of insurable earnings in 2024-2025. We understand EI premiums are being reviewed, and our view is that any increases would be ill-timed and unsustainable at a period when most businesses are struggling to resume normal business operations. It is not fair for employers and employees to pay off the deficit incurred through temporary program changes through increased premiums. Consequently, EI premium rates should be maintained at current levels.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce represent businesses of all sizes in all sectors and regions of the country, and we would like to emphasize that any proposed changes to EI must balance the need to

support workers while ensuring the program is financially sustainable and promotes a return to the labour force.

Sincerely,

Diana Palmerin-Velasco
Senior Director, Future of Work
Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Content provided by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.

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Fleming Phoenix Roundup: Sept. 23 - 24

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The Fleming Phoenix kicked off the first fall weekend with a full slate of men's and women’s varsity games but struggled to find their footing in several games.

The Fleming Phoenix logo was unveiled for the college on Sept. 8, replacing the Fleming Knight. Photo courtesy of Fleming College.

Last Saturday, the men’s Fleming Phoenix soccer team was routed at home 9-0 by the Algonquin Wolves. The women’s team home a same-day home game but were also shut out, 7-0, by the Algonquin Wolves.

Both teams return to the field on Saturday as they travel north to take on the Cambrian Golden Shield. Game time for the women is noon and 2:30 p.m. for the men.

In Women’s Rugby Sevens, the Fleming Phoenix team played four matches over the weekend, winning one and losing three. On Saturday, the Phoenix lost 27-0 to the Humber Hawks but earned their first win, 14-5, over the Conestoga Condor. On Sunday, the Fleming Phoenix had another double-header but lost 44-0 to the Durham Lords and 25-5 to the Seneca Sting.

The women play again on Saturday when they will travel to Ottawa for three matches - the Loyalist Lancers at 10:30 a.m., the Algonquin Wolves at 11:30 a.m. and the St. Lawrence Surge at 1 p.m.

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Newest Peterborough Petes Zach Bowen Ready to Get to Work

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Less than 24 hours after being traded to the Peterborough, newly-acquired Petes goaltender Zach Bowen is ready to help the team get a second championship after making his first public appearance at the Season Ticket Holder BBQ on Tuesday evening.

Bowen signing an autograph for a young Petes fan. The 18-year-old goaltender was welcomed to the team by several fans during the BBQ’s autograph session. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Petes traded OHL Playoff MVP Michael Simpson to the London Knights for Bowen and Kingston Frontenac’s third-round pick in 2025.

The trade was made two days before the team’s home opener against the Kingston Frontenacs. Head coach Rob Wilson says he is making sure that Bowen gets the time he needs to fit in with the team and get used to the Petes’s system.

“We're not rushing Zach in any way,” he explained. “We've got good goaltending with Easton and Stu (Stutska) so we're really confident with our goaltending and Zack's just another addition that just strengthens us in that position.

This was Bowen’s first public appearence with the team after being traded to the Petes. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Bowen, now in his second season, played 10 games in the playoffs last year with the London Knights as a rookie goaltender including appearances in the OHL Finals. That experience is rare and invaluable for the Petes moving forward according to Wilson.

“He's a really good goalie now,” he said. “He was 17 years old in a final. He's already battle-hardened and got some huge experience so we're excited about him and all our goalies and we're really strengthened in that area.”

“I just take it (experience) and use it and become comfortable out there now,” said Bowen. “There's no reason to be nervous anymore.”

Wilson said he knows who is starting in net for Thursday’s game but would not disclose it at the time. The Petes play the Frontenacs this Thursday at the Peterborough Memorial Centre for their home opener. The championship banner will be raised prior to puck drop, scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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Maple Ridge Retirement to Distribute Community Care Peterborough's Meals On Wheels In New Partnership

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Maple Ridge Retirement has become the new provider for Community Care Peterborough’s (CCP) hot Meals on Wheels in a new partnership announced at the Hunt Terrance on Tuesday morning.

Warden Bonnie Clark (right) and Councillor Matt Crowley (left) sampling some of the meals offered through the ‘Meals on Wheels’ program. Food included salads, chicken noodle soup, steamed vegetables, broccoli and cheese quiche and lemon squares. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

CCP’s Meals on Wheels program provides meals to seniors living alone and to adults with disabilities who are unable to shop for groceries or cook for themselves. Those discharged from a hospital with limited or no help during recovery are also ideal candidates for the program. Last year, over 43,000 meals were delivered to clients.

“It was a natural fit for our Meals on Wheels program,” said Danielle Belair – CCP executive director. “The wonderful new kitchen facility at the Hunt Terraces property that is staffed by Maple Ridge Retirement’s professional chef and his team are preparing meals to their residents in this building so we are able to share resources to help our clients too.”

“Peterborough Housing Corporation (PHC) is delighted to collaborate with Maple Ridge Retirement Services, enhancing the dining experience for our tenants by offering nutritious meals in a warm and inviting atmosphere,” said Travis Doak, PHC director of operations. Additionally, this partnership enables us to optimize our kitchen facilities, supporting the well-respected Meals on Wheels Program, operated by Community Care Peterborough.”

Hunt Terrace is a six-story building at 555 Bonaccord Street known as an intergenerational living environment with 85 units comprised of senior supportive, affordable and market units, according to a press release. Amenities in the building include commercial space, a dining room with meal options, laundry facilities and multi-purpose rooms that the community can use.

“We are pleased to welcome the Meals on Wheels Program to Hunt Terraces,” said Hope Lee, PHC CEO. “Our vision for the commercial space at this property includes partnerships that serve not only the needs of our tenants but those of the public. This is an amazing addition towards that vision.”

“Our team at Maple Ridge Retirement is very proud to be supporting Peterborough Housing’s project at Hunt Terraces,” said Michael May, vice president of operations at Maple Ridge Retirement Services As more and more people move in and others use the facility we are seeing the wide ranging benefits to the community.”

Hot Meals on Wheels are delivered Monday to Friday in the City of Peterborough and on Tuesdays and Thursdays to Lakefield area clients all year round. Meals are $8.75 per meal, including soup or salad, entrée, roll and dessert. CCP volunteers pick up their packed, insulated bags containing hot meals and deliver them to their client’s homes along a pre-planned route (with 13 routes total).

CCP is in a volunteer crisis and needs volunteers to help deliver their Meals on Wheels to clients. Expenses such as gas and mileage are compensated during their deliveries. Volunteers can apply online, in person or by calling (705) 742-7067 and asking for Melissa.

“Our clients have been so pleased with the meals that Maple Ridge Retirement has been providing through our Meals on Wheels program,” said Belair. “By sharing resources and utilizing our amazing team of volunteers, we are also able to keep our hot meals affordable for our clients in the City of Peterborough and in Lakefield.”

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City Council Invokes Buyout Clause to Develop Property on Morrow Park; Peterborough Agricultural Society Forced To Move

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Peterborough City Council has invoked a buyout clause from the Morrow Park Agreement, forcing the Peterborough Agricultural Society to move from its location to develop on the property, according to a press release issued on Tuesday.

File Photo.

The Board of the Peterborough Agricultural Society has issued the following statement:

“With mixed emotions the Board of the Peterborough Agricultural Society would like to inform the public that Peterborough City Council have given notice that they have invoked the buyout clause within the Morrow Park Agreement, asking the Society to move from our long term home at Morrow Park. This is so they can proceed to develop this historical area.

As the directors of the Society, we wish the City and its citizens best of luck with the development of their said lands. We also wish to express our extreme gratitude to the many volunteers and families who have faithfully put countless hours of time and ef ort into this major annual event over the past 180 years. It is our intent at this time to go forward as the Peterborough Agricultural Society and to look for a new home and start a new beginning. Our hopes are to form strong partnerships within the county of Peterborough and continue to promote agricultural education to the general public. Rest assured we are still here. We have a strong board of directors who are dedicated to the task of rebuilding this once strong institution. Please expect that there will be new things to come and opportunities for you, the public, to help.”

The Society has set up an online auction of memorabilia from 175 years of the Peterborough Exhibition. There are 204 items up for bid including furniture, farming equipment, clothing, signs, odds and ends and more. The auction opens on Oct. 10 and ends on Oct. 16.

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Peterborough Petes Trade OHL Playoff MVP Goaltender Michael Simpson to London Knights

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The OHL Playoff MVP is returning to his hometown as the Peterborough Petes traded Michael Simpson to the London Knights for goaltender Zach Bowen and Kingston Frontenac’s third-round pick in 2025, announced on Tuesday afternoon.

SIMPSON WAS SELECTED BY THE PETES IN THE TENTH ROUND, 193RD OVERALL FROM THE LONDON JR. KNIGHTS IN THE 2020 OHL PRIORITY SELECTION. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PETERBOROUGH PETES.

Bowen, a Kanata native, was selected by the Knights in the fourth round, 77th overall in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection. In 26 games during his rookie season last year with London, Bowen had a 17-4-0-0 record with a 3.10 GAA and .899 save percentage. In last season's playoffs, Bowen played 10 games, leading the Knights to the OHL Championship Series against the Petes. Bowen was awarded the OHL’s F.W. “Dinty” Moore Trophy for the lowest goals-against average by a rookie goalie. He recently returned from Edmonton Oilers rookie camp as a free agent invite.

“Zach is a good young goaltender who already has a very impressive resume after one year in the league,” noted Michael Oke, Petes general manager. “We’re excited to add him to the team ahead of the season.”

Simpson was entering the league as an over-age goaltender. He was selected by the Petes in the 10th round, 193rd overall, by the Petes in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection. Simpson finished third in the OHL in GAA (2.73), second in save percentage (.914) and first in shutouts (five), all while leading the league in games played (51). In the playoffs, Simpson finished with a 2.80 GAA and a .914 save percentage in 23 games, leading the Petes to an OHL Championship and winning the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as the playoff MVP.

“I’d like to thank Michael for his four years of commitment to the Petes Organization and the city of Peterborough,” said Oke. “It’s very challenging to trade a player of Michael’s ability and character. We wish him the best as he joins his hometown team for his final year of Junior.”

The Petes host their 2023-24 season opener on Thursday against the Kingston Frontenacs at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. Peterborough is raising their 2023 OHL Championship banner prior to puck drop, scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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44-Year-Old Peterborough Man Facing Multiple Assault Charges After Allegedly Striking a Woman

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A 44-year-old Peterborough man is facing charges in connection with several domestic incidents.

On Monday, officers were made aware of several incidents between 2021 and 2023 where a woman was allegedly shoved, struck in the head and verbally threatened according to the police report.

As a result of the investigation, the man was arrested and charged with:

  • Assault x2

  • Assault with a weapon

  • Uttering Threats - Cause death or Bodily Harm-Spousal

The accused is being held in custody and will appear in court on Tuesday.

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Kinsmen Minor Football League Week Two Roundup

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Week Two of the Kinsmen Minor Football League is in the books as the league played their games at Thomas A Stewart Secondary School (TASSS) last Saturday.

Sr Ticats vs Redblacks

The first game saw the Senior Division-leading Sr. Tiger Cats defeat the RedBlacks 44-27. Liam McCartie, Gage Raby and Reid Nobes scored two touchdowns apiece for the TiCats.  McCartie and Raby both kicked two extra points while Nobes added a single convert. Levi Paige scored two touchdowns for the RedBlacks while Ashton McKinlay and Brody Munnings each scored a touchdown. Munnings also kicked and ran a two-point conversion.

The second senior game had the Argonauts winning a tight contest, 25-22, over the Roughriders. Landen Levesque led the scoring for the Argos with three touchdowns. John Chapin scored a touchdown and Ethan Bebbington tacked on a rushing two-point conversion. Michael Porter, Ian Watt and Fox Theobold all scored touchdowns for the Roughriders while Zimmarie Garlow kicked two converts.

The junior-leading RedBlacks defeated the Tiger Cats 52-32. Lucas Harrington and AJ Galloway scored two touchdowns each while Easton Schenk, Joe Lachey, Harley Rock and Dillon King each added single scores for the TiCats. Galloway also kicked an extra point.

The second Junior game saw the Roughriders get a win over the Argonauts 40-12.  Caden Curtis led the scoring for the Riders with two touchdowns and five converted kicks. Mason Earnshaw added a couple of scores for the Roughriders and Leif Nancekivell had a single touchdown. Eli Black scored a pair of touchdowns for the Argonauts.

The KMFL recognizes the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation this Saturday on Week Three. All fans are asked to wear orange to the field. Chief Laurie Carr of Hiawatha First Nation will open the day with a ceremonial smudging.

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Enbridge Gas and Peterborough Fire Services Partner to Reduce Fire and Carbon Monoxide Deaths In New Project

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Enbridge Gas Inc. and Peterborough Fire Services have partnered to improve home safety and bring fire and carbon monoxide-related deaths down to zero with the Safe Community Project Zero, announced at the Peterborough Fire Services Station # 3 on Monday.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough Fire Services.

“Last year there were 133 fire fatalities in the province – the most in 20 years,” says Fire Chief Chris Snetsinger. “As part of Project Zero, we are encouraging everyone to learn more about smoke alarms, fire safety, and home fire escape planning which can save the lives of you and your loved ones. Only working smoke alarms will alert us in the event of a fire. We need to have them, and they need to work. These alarms will help us get them into the homes that need them most.”

Peterborough Fire Services received 324 combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms through Safe Community Project Zero–a public education campaign that will provide more than 10,000 alarms to residents in 50 municipalities across Ontario according to a press release.

It was reported by The City of Peterborough that Enbridge Gas invested $315,000 in Safe Community Project Zero, and over the past 15 years, the program has provided more than 86,000 alarms to Ontario fire departments.

When properly installed and maintained, combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms help provide the early warning to safely escape from a house fire or carbon monoxide exposure. Carbon monoxide is a toxic, odourless gas that is a by-product of incomplete combustion of many types of common fuels as stated in a press release.

“Properly maintaining fuel burning equipment is the best way to reduce potential exposure to carbon monoxide, and an alarm is a critical second line of defense for protection,” said Ian Moase, manager operations of Enbridge Gas.” When we implement these strategies together, we protect our loved ones from carbon monoxide poisoning, also known as the silent killer.”

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Fleming College Organizing Week-Long Events To Recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

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In recognition of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Fleming College has organized a week’s worth of events and activities to honour the day on their campuses beginning on Monday.

A children’s shoe collection will be on display at Sutherland, Frost and Haliburton Campuses from Monday through Friday, recognizing, remembering, and honouring Indigenous Children who were lost to Residential Schools.

Nish Tees, a local Indigenous business, will be selling orange shirts throughout the week at scheduled times. All proceeds will be donated to the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

A full schedule of events can be found below:

Sutherland Campus:
Orange shirts will be on sale from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Shirts are $20 each for students, $25 for the rest of the Fleming community.

Monday, Sept. 25:
Welcome and Drum Opening: Main Foyer, 10 – 11 a.m.
Orange Shirt Beading: Main Foyer, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 26:
Reading of “Phyllis’s Orange Shirt”: Main Foyer, 10 – 11 a.m.
Screening of “The Secret Path”: Whetung Theatre, B3 100, 1 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 27:
Orange Rock Painting: Steele Centre Patio, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 28:
Reading of “Phyllis’s Orange Shirt”: Main Foyer, 1 – 2 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 29:
Rock Painting and Orange Shirt Beading: Main Foyer, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Frost Campus

Thursday, Sept. 28 and Friday, Sept. 29:
Reading of “Phyllis’s Orange Shirt”: ISS Lounge 180A, 12 – 12:30 p.m.
Orange Rock Painting: ISS Lounge 180A, 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Haliburton Campus
Wednesday, Sept. 27:
Orange Shirt Sales and Orange Rock Painting: The Great Hall, 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

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