Alberta extends deadline to apply for Critical Workers' Benefit
The province is extending the deadline for private sector workers to apply for its Critical Workers Benefit to Aug. 31 and expanding the eligibility list, it announced Friday.
Previously, the deadline to apply for the $1,200 benefit was July 23.
"As Alberta’s economy recovers, small and medium-sized businesses are focused on reopening and rehiring staff," the province said in a release issued Friday. "Many of these businesses also provided services to Albertans in the midst of the pandemic and have employees who are eligible for the Critical Worker Benefit.
"In order to make sure these businesses can focus on reopening while ensuring their employees can get the Critical Worker Benefit, the deadline for private sector employers to submit applications has been extended to August 31."
Private sector workers who are eligible include truck drivers, farm workers, security guards, cleaners, funeral workers, employees at quick service and dine-in restaurants and taxi and limousine drivers.
To be eligible, workers must have been employed by an eligible employer between Oct. 12, 2020 and Jan. 31, 2021, and worked at least 300 hours, for a gross hourly wage of $25 per hour or less.
“We want to thank as many workers as possible for the risks they took to provide services to Albertans and keep our economy running during the pandemic. In order to make sure workers receive their benefit and small and medium businesses have the time needed to fill out the applications, we are extending the deadline," said Alberta's Minister of Labour and Immigration Jason Topping.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.