A12- The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, September 9, 1998 Advocate can help with paperwork Time to know your rights BEING OUT OF work and with the claim to cover your basic expenses refused by the government would be enough for most people to feel overwhelmed by the system and to give up. That’s exacily what Gerry King wants to stop people from doing. King, himself on welfare, has started Skeena Anti- Poverty, a one-man ad- vocacy office, which helps people dealing with welfare and employment insurance issues get what they think they deserve. He says people who have been fired or quit often don’t get their benefits un- less they appeal the govern- ment’s original decision to deny their claim. But, according to King, many people never appeal. “A lot of people are not aware {of their options},”’ says King, “They’re intimidated by bureaucracy. They assume you need a lawyer to prop- erly pwepare,’’ he adds. “Most people don’t really need representation,’’ he says, ‘‘bul those who are in- timidated and lacking in confidence and esteem, the system seems te overpower them,”’ Among the clients who decide to pursue their ap- peals, King says his success tate is high. “I would say I have an 85 per cent slccess rate,'’ says King. But King says most of his cases never get to the point of an official hearing. Most are cleared up with a meeting with the ap- propriate federal or provin- cial office staff in Terrace. King has worked in the poverty ficlé since 1984, Starting out in a soup kitch- en that existed where his current office is now. He warked for years for the Terrace Anti Poverty Group Society before being dismissed last year. King’s office, a donaled space on the second floor of the Tillicum Twin Theatres, opened four months ago and offers free services for any- one needing help pursuing claims, from welfare and employment insurance to Worker’s Compensation and Gerry King the Canada Pension Plan. King says there’s a grow- ing nced for advocacy ser- vices because of the in- creases number of people: filing claims for ithe first time, after having worked their entire lives. SCI urged to get on with plan On ba ches red Saverdsing, ii aire SKEENA CELLULOSE may find itself under legal pres- sure to end its delays and go ahead with a promised $170 million pulp mill modeznization. Company officials last month. confirmed they will not embark on the three- to five-year spending plan until pulp prices improve. But that has contractor Lloyd Hull arguing the firm isn’t honouring its legally binding commitments under the restructuring plan. “T’ve got a lawyer looking into it,’ Hull said last week- Thursday. “I don’t think they have a right not to do that work on the mill.” Hull noted that Don Hull and Sons Contracting Ltd, and numerous other suppliers and contractors agreed to take 10 cents on the dollar for their unpaid bills as their contribu- tion to the restructuring plan approved in January. Skeena Cellulose’s commitment, he added, was to pro- ceed with the capital expenditure pian, which is aimed at- making the pulp mill more efficient and more profitable even when pulp prices are low. “They agreed to do certain work on the mill if the un- secured creditors would go along with this plan,’’? Hull sald. ‘‘We went along with it and they’re now starting to renege.”” The delays in going ahead with the capital plan fans fears in the north that the owners — the provincial government and the TD Bank — might be wavering in their -commit- ment to save the company, LUCKY DOLLAR BINGO SEPTEMBER 1998 © MOND PALAC E SEPTEMBER 1998 TUESDAY ; “WEDNESDAY. “THURSDAY ERIDAY van | O Tease 4 paraplegic Associaton = Sain Club horthweal BuideySteena J Teaco Pipes Terave Minor | Nsgaia Tita! 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Minor J] paraplegic Assotictiong Sym Cub Council * Association Region legit Sat. Afternoon Games Doors 11:30 a.m. Games 12:45 Evening Games Doors 4:30 p.m. Games 6:15 Wed.,thurs., Fri. Sat. Late Night Games Doors 9:30 p.m. Games 10:00 p.m. Bingo Every Saturday Afternoon T.V, MONITORS 4410 Legion, Terrace AISLE CONCESSION 635-2411 OMOKE REMOVAL You know what you want. We have people who can help you get there. ~ Our Financial Solutions Managers are experienced professionals who go way beyond everyday banking. A multi-tiered training programme has empowered them to find customized solutions that help you achieve your goals. Call 1-800-663-0241 to set up a meeting. Oh when you visit your branch next, simply tell your FSM what you're looking for. With a little help, who knows how far i YOU C cquld 90. is we Banko Montes: IT js POSSIBLE’ ® Ragistorad trade mark of Bank of Montreal.