Rush for the provincial benefit crashes website

EDMONTON Technical roadblocks halted support payment applications from Albertans who are self-isolating during the COVID -19 pandemic.

Thousands of eligible business owners and self-employed Albertans had signed up for the provincial benefit by 2 p.m. Wednesday, causing the government’s website to crash on the first day of applications, Premier Jason Kenney said at an afternoon news conference.

“Service Alberta will have it up and running again with expanded capacity, so I just wanted to ask people to be patient as we cope with the overwhelming demand,” said Kenney.

Applying for the provincial benefit was not possible at all for those without an Alberta ID or an up-todate driver’s licence. Applicants hit a digital wall if their licence was temporary or expired.

The system had been designed to bypass an extra step to get a verification code that takes 10 days, said Brittany Baltimore, press secretary to Labour Minister Jason

Copping. She said the government is working to update the system to accept an expired driver’s licence.

Beyond Wednesday’s technical problems, NDP opposition critic for labour Christina Gray said there were some “big issues” with the emergency support program.

“It’s clear today that the eligibility is more narrowly defined than that of the federal government program,” said Gray.

That includes parents staying home to care for their children, even if they are not being technically laid off, and Gray urged the premier to reconsider emergency supports for some who are being rejected, including recipients of AISH or income support.

According to the latest Angus Reid poll, Albertans have been the hardest hit by COVID -19, with more than 50 per cent of households experiencing work loss.

The benefit is a one-time payment of $1,146 sent through Interac e-transfer to bridge the gap until federal support becomes available in April. To sign up for the benefit, Albertans need to go to emergencyisolationsupport.alberta.ca with a Myalberta online ID.

Employees who do not have access to paid sick leave through their employer are eligible to apply for federal employment insurance.

A federal emergency care benefit — totalling $900 bi-weekly — goes into effect April 1.

This needs to be applied for separately and will be delivered through the Canada Revenue Agency, not the EI program.

We have to look at what supports might be put in place. It may be that families will have to pitch in a little more than they might have in the past.