Province announces supports for impacted workers and low-income Islanders

The province is launching new supports to help Islanders get through the pandemic and current public health restrictions put in place to mitigate and contain the spread of COVID-19.

The Prince Edward Island Emergency Payment for Workers is a $500 payment is for workers and self-employed Islanders who have completely lost their income or had their hours reduced by at least 12 hours a week from December 7 to 21, 2020. The program will be open for applications by Thursday, December 10. 

Additionally, the province is relaunching the Employee Gift Card Program. These $100 grocery gift cards are for workers who have been laid off between December 7 and 21, 2020. The application form for the program is to be completed by the employer, who will then distribute the cards to affected employees. The program will be open for applications by Thursday, December 10.

Details for both programs will be available by midnight tonight at For Business.

“We know this is a tough time for Islanders, especially with it being so close to the holiday season,” said Minister of Economic Growth, Tourism and Culture Matthew MacKay. “Since day one of this pandemic, our department has been committed to supporting Islanders and we continue to do just that. Islanders have our support and we will get through this, together.”

In an effort to support low-income Islanders, the Province is providing $100,000 to the PEI Association of Food Banks. There are 14 food banks across the Island. Food bank locations include: 

• Upper Room Hospitality Ministry, 33 Belmont St., Charlottetown;
• Salvation Army Food Bank, 158 Fitzroy St., Charlottetown;
• Cornwall Food Bank, 5 Lowther Dr., Cornwall;
• Southern Kings and Queens Food Bank Inc., 222 PE-17, Montague;
• Crapaud South Shore Food Share, 20424 Trans-Canada Highway, Crapaud;
• Souris Food Bank, 56 Main St., Souris;
• Summerside Salvation Army Food Bank, 374 Pope Rd., Summerside;
• Alberton Caring Cupboard, 498 Main St., Alberton;
• Bloomfield Caring Cupboard, 37947 Veteran’s Memorial Highway, O’Leary;
• Tignish Caring Cupboard, 315 School St., Tignish;
• Tyne Valley Caring Cupboard, 815 Canada Rd., Tyne Valley;
• Campus Food Bank, UPEI campus, 550 University Ave., Charlottetown;
• Kensington Food Bank, 30 Garden Dr., Kensington; and,
• Rustico Food Bank, 58 Church Hill Ave., North Rustico.

“We understand that this is a stressful time for Islanders with Christmas around the corner,” says Minister of Social Development and Housing, Ernie Hudson. “Our department is committed to supporting low-income Islanders and Islanders in need of COVID-19 assistance, through the work of our community partners and front-line department staff.” 
 
Another $100,000 will be provided to the United Way of Prince Edward Island for COVID-19 relief efforts. The province is also providing social assistance and assured income clients with a one-time top up payment of $100 per client this month. 

Today marks the first day of the new Circuit Breaker” public health measures to aggressively curb and contain the spread of COVID-19 in province. These measures are in place for two weeks and are intended to break the chain of transmission of COVID-19.

For more information about Prince Edward Island’s response to COVID-19 pandemic, visit: COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Prince Edward Island.

Media Contacts:
Hillary MacDonald
Economic Growth, Tourism and Culture
(902) 394-6368
hpsmacdonald@gov.pe.ca

Rebecca Gass
Social Development and Housing
(902) 620-3409
rjgass@gov.pe.ca