Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes (Photo courtesy of Bob Schneider)

By Scott Roblin

Maintenance Enforcement

Child & spousal support case workers given more power by province

Mar 23, 2020 | 6:23 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – In this time of great uncertainty due to COVID-19, Albertans have been told to support and lean on family members where they can.

For some families in our province, that’s easier said than done.

As thousands of workers across Alberta are being laid off, those who have been court ordered to pay child or spousal support are finding it more difficult to fulfill their legal requirements according to Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes.

“There’s some concerns for families and unfortunately following a family breakup is the finances,” said Barnes. “There’s some concern and some people have reached out.”

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The province has since implemented changes to its Maintenance Enforcement Program, which deals with the collection and enforcement of child and spousal support in Alberta.

Case workers within the program are being given more power amidst the COVID-19 pandemic to grant exceptions to those in the system who are having trouble making payments.

“They can enforce reductions, they can enforce those payments for longer than they used to be able to,” said Barnes. “A lot of good people in the system of course will just have to find a way to do what is best and fair.”

Compounding the issue has been the suspension of Alberta courts through the end of the month, which is often the process in which changes to the court orders are made.

Barnes doesn’t believe blanket changes to the MEP are on the way, as the department is still dealing with court orders on a case by case basis.

There also have not been any changes to restrictions on driver’s licence and passport suspensions, which are often put in place if child or spousal support payments aren’t made.

However, those conditions will be up to the case workers with their expanded powers.

“What I’d suggest to you if anybody finds themselves in an awkward, awful situation where they need to make a temporary arrangement, just to be prepared and reach out to their case worker,” said Barnes.

More details on the government’s Maintenance Enforcement Program can be found on the province’s website.