Canada's Finance Minister Bill Morneau speaks during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada, February 22, 2016. REUTERS/Chris Wattie

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau said on Tuesday the federal government will provide Alberta with an advance fiscal stabilization payment of about C$251.4 million ($182.12 million).

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said earlier this month the government was prepared to provide an advance payment to the oil-producing province, where the jobless rate has spiked to its highest since 1996.

($1 = 1.3804 Canadian dollars)