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Emergency Payment Program to Help Unemployed Albertans Get Through the Holidays

Holiday Emergency Lifeline Payment - HELP

Alberta’s NDP is proposing a program to help Albertans facing sudden unemployment over the holidays and to provide a shot of adrenaline to the provincial economy in the wake of new closure measures that came into effect over the weekend. 

The Holiday Emergency Lifeline Payment (HELP) program would give $1,000 to each worker who was laid off or furloughed during the second closure, which took effect Sunday. The money would provide bridge funding to Albertans while they wait for Employment Insurance or the Canada Recovery Benefit, which can take up to 14 days to receive.

The premier delayed taking action and now he’s shut down these businesses at the busiest time of year,” said NDP Critic for Economic Development and Innovation Deron Bilous. “This program will help stimulate the economy and prevent further job losses. This will help reduce the economic impact of the lock down and set us up for recovery when the economy reopens

MLA Deron Bilous

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