Fort McMurray residents who left Alberta haven't received promised money

A Cape Breton woman and her husband who travelled to Nova Scotia to escape the Fort McMurray wildfires say they have not received pre-loaded debit cards promised by the Alberta government.

"I know this was not something they were expecting so I know it's not something easy for them to do. It's definitely something we appreciate that they're giving us the help with those debit cards but it is a little hard when you're out of province not being able to get those funds when you need them," said Taunya Kooiker.

When the issue was brought up during town hall style conference calls, Taunya Kooiker says she was told "they were working on it and they would have an answer in a few days."

The province and the Red Cross said they would give electronic transfers and pre-loaded debit cards to those impacted by the wildfire. 

The Red Cross will provide emergency funds of $600 per adult and $300 per child. The province is handing out pre-loaded debit cards with $1,250 for adults and $500 for children.

"The Red Cross basically just let us know that they have funds available to be e-mail transferred to everyone, but the government did not have a plan yet on how to get the debit cards to people out of province."

The Alberta government confirmed Saturday it was working to get debit cards out to people temporarily out of province, but there is no timeline.

Kooiker lived in Fort McMurray and has been staying with her family in her hometown of New Waterford for ten days. She and her husband will head to Lethbridge, AB, where they will wait until they get the all clear to go home to Fort McMurray. While there they plan to pick up their debit cards at the Alberta Works office.