Some Fort McMurray evacuees can't access Alberta government wildfire relief funds

Evacuees from Fort McMurray staying in other provinces aren't able to access wildfire assistance funding from the Alberta government.

The premier's office said it's working on a plan to get debit cards to those who are temporarily located in other provinces, but there's currently no timeline, spokesman John Archer said on Saturday.

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For some evacuees — like Steve and Ada Wilson, who are staying with their son in Hamilton, Ont. — finances are starting to dry up.  

'You have to pay your way'

The Wilsons left Fort McMurray on May 3 with next to nothing. They spent most of their money, plus the $1,200 they got by May 5 from the Canadian Red Cross, driving across the country.  

"Outside Alberta, people are nice and they're understanding and they feel sorry and they're contributing to the Red Cross and all that," Steve Wilson said. 

"But it's not like in Alberta, where hotels are giving free rooms and this and that. You have to pay your way."

I'm almost tapped. I'm almost destitute now. I even told them I'm going to hitchhike. Like I'll hitchhike to Alberta because they want you to go to Alberta to get it.- Steve Wilson, evacuee

When they arrived in Ontario on May 7, they tried to find out how to get their government debit cards.

They couldn't.

"You spend all your money that you have and then when you get to where you're at and you try to find out, 'Okay, where's this government money…' it's not available," Wilson said.

Wilson said he supposes he could borrow money, if push comes to shove.

Archer told CBC News that there is no official count on the number of evacuees outside of Alberta.

As of Friday, the government had  issued 35,644 debit cards totalling $76.1 million to 73,123 evacuees in Alberta.  

In an email, Archer said the government is working with the Red Cross to confirm the location of evacuees who are out of province, which is why he said it's important they provide their most up-to-date contact information.

He said distributing debit cards in a secure way to the people who need it depends on proper identification, which, when presented in person at distribution centres and Alberta Works offices, makes verification easier and more efficient.

Evacuees must apply for debit cards in Alberta

There is no time limit for evacuees to apply for debit cards. The premier's office said it's telling evacuees staying out-of-province they can do so at Alberta Works when they return.

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"The government said, 'Don't worry, if you leave province, it will be available for you.' Now they're saying it will be available if you make it back and you can go to an Alberta Works office and pick it up there," Wilson said.

He said he's been calling government offices with questions, but keeps getting the same answer: 'We're working on it.'

Wilson said it's starting to feel like nothing is getting done. 

"I'm almost tapped. I'm almost destitute now. I even told them I'm going to hitchhike. Like I'll hitchhike to Alberta because they want you to go to Alberta to get it," Wilson said.

"If that's what they want, I guess that's what you gotta do."

Left with limited options

From what the Wilsons know, their house is still standing.

Steve Wilson works with heavy equipment doing fire suppression. He's expecting to get called back to work when the evacuation order is lifted within the next few weeks.

But the Wilsons blew the engine on their car driving across the country. To get back to Fort McMurray, they'll have to fly.

And they're concerned about all the supplies they're supposed to bring back — especially without the cash to purchase them.

"They're doing everything they can for people who stayed in province, but for some of us, that wasn't any option, so we left," Wilson said.

"We left with the understanding that the cards would be available anywhere in Canada and, so far, they're not."