The Alberta Government has recently implemented a new program to help businesses that are participating in the Restrictions Exemption Program (REP).  

The $20-million Restrictions Exemption Program Implementation Grant is now open to all eligible businesses, cooperatives, and non-profit organizations. Small and medium-sized organizations may use the one-time funding as they see fit. 

“It's a $2,000 grant,” explained MLA for Chestermere-Strathmore, Leela Sharon Aheer. “I know that some of the other grants have been a little slow rolling out. But this one, hopefully, we'll roll it out as quickly as possible, but it's an offset for costs of implementation of the REP program.”  

Alberta is the first province to provide funding support to organizations participating in a program that requires patrons age 12 and older to show proof of vaccination, a negative test result, or medical exemption. 

“Once you're on that list of eligible organizations and you implement the REP program as part of your daily operations, this grant will help you to navigate the costs of that. So, that would be if you need an iPad in order to be able to scan the QR code, or you have to find more people if you are a restaurant.”  

Applicants have to be on the list of eligible in-scope operators of organizations, implement the Restrictions Exemption Program consistently as part of daily operations, be a permanent establishment in Alberta and employ fewer than 500 employees 

“This is just a way to get everybody in the door and be as safe as possible under the circumstances right now.” 

Applications can be made online here.