BECAUSE INCOMPETENT UCP IGNORED FED FUNDS FOR WORKERS
UNTIL THE NDP ASKED THEM ABOUT IT
Lisa Johnson
An Edmonton bakery owner says he was surprised to find his application for Alberta’s critical worker benefit program denied despite the government listing bakers as eligible.
© Provided by Edmonton Journal Simon Underwood, co-owner of Doughnut Party, says his attempt to get his workers the one-time $1,200 payments was turned down because doughnuts are not considered as essential as bread.
Simon Underwood, co-owner of Doughnut Party, says his attempt to get his workers the one-time $1,200 payments was turned down because doughnuts are not considered as essential as bread.
“Where is this particular piece of criteria coming from, and why is it being used to disqualify our staff?” said Underwood, who added if the program had used all the money, that would be fine — but that’s not what he was told.
He said the experience was “uniquely frustrating,” since the rules weren’t clearly outlined and seemed to be an arbitrary splitting of hairs.
“Were people not supposed to have any treats? Is pizza essential food or non-essential food?” said Underwood.
The application portal for private workers is set to be closed by Friday, but many workers who were once listed as eligible have already found out they will not receive it because that criteria has since been narrowed.
At first, the government’s website listed “truck transportation” occupations as eligible, but when more details of the program were released and the application portal opened, it specified only those involved with the delivery of food and medical supplies could access the cash.
When the program was announced Feb. 10 , the province said more than 380,000 frontline workers would receive the one-time payments. The province would pitch in $118 million towards the total $465-million benefit cost, shared with the federal government.
Since the opening of applications a week later on Feb 17, questions have swirled about why essential workers like food delivery drivers, retailers, restaurant employees and taxi drivers were not included.
Simon Underwood, co-owner of Doughnut Party, says his attempt to get his workers the one-time $1,200 payments was turned down because doughnuts are not considered as essential as bread.
“Where is this particular piece of criteria coming from, and why is it being used to disqualify our staff?” said Underwood, who added if the program had used all the money, that would be fine — but that’s not what he was told.
He said the experience was “uniquely frustrating,” since the rules weren’t clearly outlined and seemed to be an arbitrary splitting of hairs.
“Were people not supposed to have any treats? Is pizza essential food or non-essential food?” said Underwood.
The application portal for private workers is set to be closed by Friday, but many workers who were once listed as eligible have already found out they will not receive it because that criteria has since been narrowed.
At first, the government’s website listed “truck transportation” occupations as eligible, but when more details of the program were released and the application portal opened, it specified only those involved with the delivery of food and medical supplies could access the cash.
When the program was announced Feb. 10 , the province said more than 380,000 frontline workers would receive the one-time payments. The province would pitch in $118 million towards the total $465-million benefit cost, shared with the federal government.
Since the opening of applications a week later on Feb 17, questions have swirled about why essential workers like food delivery drivers, retailers, restaurant employees and taxi drivers were not included.
© Provided by Edmonton Journal Labour Minister Jason Copping said the government considers critical workers those who provided specific supports in health care and those in the private sector supporting food and medicine supply chains.
Labour Minister Jason Copping said at an estimates committee last week that the program had to differentiate between essential and critical workers because there was limited funding. The government considers critical workers those who provided specific supports in health care and those in the private sector supporting food and medicine supply chains, Copping said.
“We wanted to design a program that worked for Alberta,” said Copping, who added that a large majority of Alberta’s workforce was designated as essential.
“I thank all workers who continued to work throughout the pandemic — they’ve come to work and done an incredible job,” he said.
As of March 10, the program had received 6,930 calls and 9,284 applications, although department officials were unable to confirm how many applications or employees had been denied. Copping’s office did not provide updated numbers or comment as of press time Thursday.
At a Thursday news conference, NDP labour critic Christina Gray again called on the government to fill the gaps in the program that she said was denying thousands of deserving workers.
“It seems to me that it was rolled out quickly, without consultation with workers, without reflecting what’s happening on the ground in this pandemic,” said Gray.
Gray was joined by taxi industry representatives who said they were insulted to have been left out of the benefit.
Taxi driver Sardar Rashid Yousaf said the rules were unfair to drivers on the front lines of the pandemic.
“If somebody is sick, who would they pick? If somebody goes to the hospital, who would they pick? So we are taking a risk on our life,” he said.
On Wednesday, the federal government finally confirmed the province would receive the $347 million the province had announced for the critical worker benefit.
Katherine Cuplinskas, press secretary to federal Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, said in an email Wednesday Ottawa had provided $30 million and would be providing $317 million as part of a plan originally billed as a wage top-up for essential workers.
“We are pleased that Alberta requested this additional funding to help those who have been on the front lines of the pandemic for over a year. Albertans deserve this financial support in recognition of their hard work and sacrifice,” said Cuplinskas.
Copping has said the majority of the province’s money would be out the door before the end of the month.
lijohnson@postmedia.com
twitter.com/reportrix
For more on Alberta’s vaccine rollout, read our guide driven by reader questions.
Labour Minister Jason Copping said at an estimates committee last week that the program had to differentiate between essential and critical workers because there was limited funding. The government considers critical workers those who provided specific supports in health care and those in the private sector supporting food and medicine supply chains, Copping said.
“We wanted to design a program that worked for Alberta,” said Copping, who added that a large majority of Alberta’s workforce was designated as essential.
“I thank all workers who continued to work throughout the pandemic — they’ve come to work and done an incredible job,” he said.
As of March 10, the program had received 6,930 calls and 9,284 applications, although department officials were unable to confirm how many applications or employees had been denied. Copping’s office did not provide updated numbers or comment as of press time Thursday.
At a Thursday news conference, NDP labour critic Christina Gray again called on the government to fill the gaps in the program that she said was denying thousands of deserving workers.
“It seems to me that it was rolled out quickly, without consultation with workers, without reflecting what’s happening on the ground in this pandemic,” said Gray.
Gray was joined by taxi industry representatives who said they were insulted to have been left out of the benefit.
Taxi driver Sardar Rashid Yousaf said the rules were unfair to drivers on the front lines of the pandemic.
“If somebody is sick, who would they pick? If somebody goes to the hospital, who would they pick? So we are taking a risk on our life,” he said.
On Wednesday, the federal government finally confirmed the province would receive the $347 million the province had announced for the critical worker benefit.
Katherine Cuplinskas, press secretary to federal Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, said in an email Wednesday Ottawa had provided $30 million and would be providing $317 million as part of a plan originally billed as a wage top-up for essential workers.
“We are pleased that Alberta requested this additional funding to help those who have been on the front lines of the pandemic for over a year. Albertans deserve this financial support in recognition of their hard work and sacrifice,” said Cuplinskas.
Copping has said the majority of the province’s money would be out the door before the end of the month.
lijohnson@postmedia.com
twitter.com/reportrix
For more on Alberta’s vaccine rollout, read our guide driven by reader questions.
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