Alberta’s financial assistance portal for parents during the teachers’ strike is opening on Tuesday. The province announced earlier this month it would offer $30-a-school day per child 12 and under for parents navigating childcare expenses. This means parents with school-aged children can receive up to $150/child per week. Eligible guardians can now send in their applications through the province’s portal on their official website. Payments are retroactive to Oct. 6, when teachers first walked off the job, and would continue for the rest of the strike. Those who are eligible would start receiving payments via e-transfer starting Oct. 31 and then on a monthly basis. The province’s website stipulates that the money is non-taxable income and available to all parents or guardians of eligible children regardless of household income. “These payments are intended to help parents impacted by labour action and do not have to be paid back,” it read. Only one parent or guardian per child will be able to apply for the parent payment program. Parents will have to register with the portal through their Alberta.ca account. Additional financial support through the portal is available for children with disabilities aged five to 17 if they have active Family Support for Children with Disabilities agreements. In a statement to CTV News Edmonton on Tuesday afternoon, education minister Demetrios Nicolaides said anyone experiencing issues with their account should call the Alberta.ca team at 1-844-643-2789. Questions about the parent payment itself can be directed to parentpaymentsupport@gov.ab.ca.
