Parents Begin Receiving Provincial Strike Relief Payments
After weeks of uncertainty caused by the teachers’ strike, thousands of Alberta parents are finally receiving funds through the Parent Payment Program, giving families some financial relief just in time for Halloween weekend.
On Friday, many families saw the long-awaited e-transfer from the province arrive in their inboxes. The program compensates parents for the 16 missed school days during the strike, paying $30 per day per child, or $480 total, with higher amounts for children with special needs.
“It helps a bit,” said Damanjit Maher, a father of one. “But it doesn’t fully cover the day when we take time off.”
Background: Strike Ended After Government Legislation
The payments come after Premier Danielle Smith’s government passed emergency legislation earlier this week, forcing teachers back to work and imposing a new collective agreement. The province used the notwithstanding clause to prevent potential court challenges.
According to officials, the Parent Payment Program is funded using money saved from teacher salaries during the three-week strike that affected students across Alberta.
Some Parents Face E-Transfer Confusion
While many families received payments smoothly, others encountered challenges accepting their e-transfers. Colton Nickel, a father of two, woke up to find the transfer notification Friday morning but soon ran into problems.
He initially tried using the e-transfer’s reference number as the password, but it didn’t work. Later, he discovered the correct password was a separate application reference number found on the Parent Payment Program website.
“By the time I figured it out, the deposit had already been cancelled,” Nickel said, adding that several failed attempts triggered the cancellation.
Experts Question the Province’s Payment Method
Cybersecurity and technology expert Ritesh Kotak said the government’s choice of Interac e-transfer for mass payments is unusual.
“There are barriers there,” he explained. “Usually, governments use direct electronic bank transfers because they go straight into an account without manual steps.”
Still, Kotak said the approach may have been the fastest option to get money to families, even if it’s “a little unconventional.”
Province Explains the Process and Fixes Confusion
In response to the confusion, the Department of Education and Child Care issued a bulletin Friday afternoon explaining the process.
“All parent payments will be sent by e-transfer using the email linked to your Alberta.ca account,” the notice read. “If you have auto-deposit, the payment will go directly into your account. If not, you’ll have ten days to manually accept it.”
If a payment isn’t accepted within ten days, it will be cancelled and reissued on November 30. The ministry also reminded users that the password format includes dashes and is case sensitive, advising against copying and pasting.
However, some parents reported difficulties reaching the support line and email address provided in the announcement during the first hours of the rollout.
Mixed Feelings Among Alberta Families
Not all parents are cashing in. Marrie Diaz, a Calgary mother, said she chose not to apply as a show of solidarity with educators.
“The people who accept the money are just going with the flow, hoping this will pass,” Diaz said.
Despite differing opinions, the Parent Payment Program portal remains open until November 14, giving families more time to apply and access their payments.
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