Premier Dwight Ball says talks are ongoing with the federal government on programs available to help those who have lost wages as a result of “Snowmaggedon 2020”.

As for income support payments, Ball says they will make sure that recipients get their cheques. The next payday is February 1, and those who receive their cheques through direct deposit are not impacted.

Under the existing legislation, there is no requirement for employers to pay employees in this situation. Ball congratulates the employers who did make the decision to pay employees, however, not all small businesses can afford to.

The Premier says everyone feels the impact from the storm, but the focus is on the employees.

Ball says these are discussions that they need to have following the SOE. He claims that they will see what programs and provisions can be made possible for small business owners, but the focus is on lost wages and low income earners.