A program meant to help address sudden revenue downturns will be used by Ottawa to give Alberta a little more than $250 million.

Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau announced Tuesday that Alberta would receive $251.4 million in a stabilization payment.

Morneau said Alberta qualified for the cash injection under the federal Fiscal Stabilization Program – and the province would receive the maximum amount allowed under the program, which works out to $60 per person in Alberta.

“I was pleased to work directly with [Alberta Finance] Minister [Joe] Ceci for the benefit of Albertan families, who I know are going through a particularly challenging time,” Morneau said Tuesday. “I want to thank the members of our Alberta caucus, including ministers [Kent] Hehr and [Amarjeet] Sohi for their tireless advocacy for their province.”

In a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley welcomed the payment, but said more needed to be done.

“I would suggest that both the depth and the drop [of oil prices] along with the expected duration of the drop is probably the worst we’ve seen in this province in 22 years,” Notley said.

“I mean, when you look at what we’ve lost, in terms of the price of oil, it’s unfortunately not enough.”

Economist Todd Hirsch admitted the sum set by Ottawa wasn’t much, but it could be used to help if the province picked key infrastructure projects that are ready to move forward.

“That will get some spending and some jobs going, but it will also make a difference to the economy,” Hirsch said.

Notley said the province had not yet determined what would be done with the money.

The funds announced Tuesday are just a start; the province is also calling for EI reforms, money for infrastructure projects and federal support for new pipelines.

The program is available for provinces when revenue drops by at least 5 percent from the previous year.

The same program also includes equalization payments and healthcare transfers.

It’s expected Newfoundland and Labrador will also apply for funding through the same program. That province has also been hit by low oil prices – because of its population, that province would be eligible for a maximum of $32 million.

With files from Bill Fortier