February 27, 2025

Alberta Budget 2025 Our initial thoughts

The Minister of Finance and Treasury released the Alberta Budget. Our first reactions to the Alberta Budget 2025-2028

Increases to Low-Income Transit Pass Funding

We are thrilled to see a significant increase in funding for low-income transit passes, from 16 million to 21 million. This boost is a ray of hope, guiding us to our destinations and opening new opportunities for connections, employment, good health, and community. We eagerly await the details of how this money will be distributed across the province and hope it will be enough to maintain affordable fares.

AISH is intact and has a declining budget; how assured is it?

We are thankful that the monthly cheques for Albertans on AISH continue for 2025 and that the budget does not impact the monthly amount, yet the program itself still faces a $43 million cut in 2025. We are alarmed that the AISH budget declines yearly to a grand total of $77,000,000 until 2027-28. This decline could mean a reduction in applicants, possibly longer wait times, with unknown eligibility criteria changes, all of which could significantly impact new applicants and those who have already received AISH and previously worked in precarious employment. We are now facing a tight labour market with unemployment rates in Edmonton (7.2%), Red Deer (9.2%) and Calgary (7.7%) above the national average at the beginning of 2025.

ADAP (Alberta Disability Assistance Plan) Unknowns

We face health challenges requiring adaptions and attitudinal shifts in the workforce. ADAP has many unknowns, especially when we do not have an 'Alberta Accessibility Act' framework to assist and measure improvements in the job market and employers for persons with disabilities. Typically, people with disabilities are the last to be hired and the first to be fired and face attitudinal barriers to securing employment and being paid our worth.

“I have had the same job for 17 years but don’t make enough even to sniff the limit.”

Canada Disability Benefit, Alberta claws benefit back

After months of letters asking to leave the benefit alone, Others reacted to the announcement that the “Canada Disability Benefit” (CDB) would be clawed back. This means that even though it is already challenging (only 1 in 4 Canadians with disabilities qualifies for the CDB), it effectively penalizes individuals for trying to improve their financial situation. We ask: Why do we even apply if there is no benefit to the benefit?

The CDB is a federal program meant to supplement the cost of living and increase people’s income (to be a top-up). But when it gets clawed back, why bother? Seven provinces and territories (Saskatchewan, Nunavut, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Quebec, and British Columbia) have committed no clawbacks on the CDB.

Given our challenges, we must engage in dialogue as we uncover more details.

We have invited the Minister to talk with us and await a response.

Light the Way, Alberta

Since we lost our provincial funding on January 7th, 2025 (15 months too early), we know at least 800 letters have been sent to the Province to honour the contracts.

We hope you will continue to help us 'Light the Way for self-advocacy" a campaign aimed at raising awareness to continue to voice the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities from lived experience to help inform policy changes. Our aim is to connect with 4,500 Albertans to donate $25 or more to help us move forward and continue our efforts.

We are deeply grateful to all who have donated and spread the word. Your support is invaluable and we couldn't do this without you. #LightTheWayAB

Edison bulbs in the night lit up against the Alberta

February 20, 2025

Our doors are open to talk about ADAP. Let's Talk

Members of the Disability Action Hall are aware of the recent announcement that the government will explore the feasibility of the Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP), which may become effective in May 2026.

While it is difficult for us to respond to such a small detail, our doors are open for another month, and we welcome the Minister to meet with us.

In the meantime, we encourage Alberta to monitor the ADAP website for further updates.

We have known how to have challenging conversations with diplomacy and respect for thirty years. We are thankful for the support from the Government of Alberta for nearly three decades.

If you want to light the way and be able to spare a donation, then...

Please visit our 'Light the Way' Fundraising 'CanadaHelps' page.

We are part of the 'Calgary Scope Society.

Alternatively, you can also visit the Canada Helps page'

(then select 'Disability Action Hall' in the pull-down menu).

January 28, 2025

Update: Keep the letters and stories coming! (January 28th 2025)

Update: Disability Action Hall members want to say thank you! We are grateful to hear how much self-advocacy work means to you and the community. Thank you for continuing to send letters and share stories with all of us. Reaching out to us, helping in your own way and asking us how to help has meant a great deal during this challenging time.

Stories of Impact

One of our members shares why self-advocacy groups are critical to helping our city and community be a safe, accessible city. (2 minutes)

For people who may not know...

On January 7th, we received an email that our collective funding for three groups across Alberta (approximately $425,000)—would be terminated in just 90 days.

This notice came 15 months before the scheduled renewal of our three contracts and without any prior warning.

After decades of collaboration with the Government of Alberta, this sudden decision has left our groups, Self-Advocacy Federation, Disability Action Hall and Southern Alberta Individualized Planning Association (SAIPA) and, most importantly, the individuals and communities we serve—in a precarious and uncertain position.

How you can help

Here is a link to the letter-writing tool.

Start by Sending a letter (CLICK HERE) Share your story!

By sharing your story, we hope it will help reverse this decision to #Honourthecontracts until March 31st, 2026. This will give us more time to create a better plan to continue our work. #SelfAdvocacyMatters