SUPPORT FOR EMPLOYEES

The Alberta government has committed $50 million for emergency isolation support for people who need to isolate and will not have another source of pay or compensation while isolated. Read more here.

Alberta’s Employment Standards Code has been changed to allow:
- Full and part-time employees can take 14 days of job-protected leave if they are required to self-isolate.
- Full and part-time employees can take 14 days of job-protected leave they are caring for a child or dependent adult that is required to self-isolate. Read more here.

The Alberta government has stated that employees can request using their vacation pay or banked overtime, but employers are not required to grant the request. Provincial employment rules only require employers to provide vacation pay, vacation leave or pay banked overtime within a year of it being earned.
The Alberta government has stated that employers can request employees voluntarily take vacation leave and/or use their vacation pay or banked overtime, but employers cannot force them to do so under provincial employment rules.

The one-week waiting period for Employment Insurance benefits has been waived by the federal government.
Employees can apply for up to 15 weeks of assistance if a person cannot work due to medical reasons such as self-isolation or self-quarantine. You could receive 55% of your earning, up to a maximum of $573 a week. Read more here.

The government of Alberta has said that residential customers can defer electricity and natural gas bill payments for the next 90 days to ensure no one will be cut off, regardless of the service provider.
EPCOR will defer bill payments for the next 90 days starting March 23. Read more here.

The Alberta government is implementing a six-month, interest free, moratorium on Alberta student loan payments for all Albertans in the process of repaying these loans. Alberta Student Loan repayments will be paused for 6 months, beginning March 30, 2020. You do not need to apply for repayment pause.

The Canada Revenue Agency will defer the filing due date for the 2019 tax returns of individuals, including certain trusts.

Personal banking customers can apply for a deferral on their ATB loans, lines of credit and mortgages for up to 6 months.

Credit union members will have access to a variety of programs and solutions designed to ease difficulties with loan payments and short-term cash flow.
Both individual and business members are encouraged to proactively contact their credit union directly to work out a plan for their personal situation.