Municipalities call on Alberta government to pause changes to disability benefits

AISH recipients moved to new program will receive $200 less each month.

Natasha Riebe, CBC News Edmonton Apr 16, 2026

Several Alberta municipalities are urging the province to pause changes to the provincial Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program, which are set to take effect July 1.

The city councils of Red Deer, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Camrose and Calgary have either passed motions asking the government to put the changes on hold, or are in discussions to do so.

The town council of Claresholm also passed a motion in February and the town council of Rocky Mountain House directed its administration to draft a letter, asking the province to reconsider.

All AISH recipients will be automatically transferred into the province’s replacement initiative, called the Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP), according to a discussion guide posted by the provincial government last summer.

AISH recipients who are moved to ADAP will receive $200 less each month than they would have previously.

This week, Red Deer Coun. Cassandra Curtis raised a motion, which noted there was a lack of consultation on Bill 12, the legislation permitting the creation of ADAP.

The UCP-majority legislature passed the bill last fall. Red Deer’s motion also directs the province to do a social-economic assessment and to consult persons with disabilities, advocacy organizations and medical professionals before changing AISH.

ADAP focuses on expanding income support options for Albertans who have a severe disability but are still able to work, according to the discussion guide.

Curtis said people moving to ADAP may not be able to make up for the program’s $200 deduction in income, compared to AISH (suggested deleting).

“Some might not be able to find an employer that’s able to work with them and their condition,” Curtis said in an interview Wednesday.

“And some people also have good days and bad days and won’t be able to maintain employment on a stable basis to make up for that difference.”

People who want to remain on AISH will only be able to do so if they re-apply and if a medical review panel determines them unable to work.

WATCH | This AISH recipient is ‘not optimistic’ about Bill 12

The Alberta government has passed Bill 12, which introduced the new Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP). It will eventually replace the current AISH program for many people with disabilities. Mike Wing, a disability advocate and AISH recipient, is not convinced that ADAP will be an improvement over AISH. CBC News, December 14, 2025

Jason Nixon, the minister of assisted living and social services, said a pause isn’t going to happen and that criticism is unfounded.

“Unfortunately because of misinformation, some city councils are asking for things to pause not understanding what the consequences of that decision would be,” Nixon told reporters Wednesday.

The consequences of that would be thousands of people who are not eligible for AISH today would not be able to start receiving ADAP payments in July.”

In January, Edmonton city council passed a motion also asking for a pause.

Coun. Keren Tang raised the motion but realized Nixon is unlikely to budge from his position.

“Ultimately, the goal is to make sure this remains top of mind for society, for government, that this is an active conversation.”

People affected by the changes are trying to prepare, but there’s still a lot of anxiety, Teng said. “People continue to be concerned,’ she said. “Four months later, I’m still getting emails.”

Darryl Learie, an AISH recipient for nearly 30 years, brought a petition containing 5,674 signatures against the changes to the Alberta legislature Tuesday, where the Opposition NDP presented it during question period.

Learie said he suffers from generalized anxiety, depression, ADHD, and is on the autism spectrum. Working for him isn’t an option, he said. 

“Programs like AISH are designed to remove the pressure of working so that people can focus on managing serious mental health conditions,” Learie told news media at the legislature.  

“When too much pressure is being put on me, I tend to destabilize and fall apart.” 

Natasha Riebe, Journalist

Natasha Riebe landed at CBC News in Edmonton after radio, TV and print journalism gigs in Halifax, Seoul, Yellowknife and on Vancouver Island. Please send tips in confidence to natasha.riebe@cbc.ca

Source CBC News Edmonton