Latest news with #AISH
Calgary Herald
10 hours ago
- Climate
- Calgary Herald
Wildfire live updates: How to register for evacuee payments in Alberta
Cooler conditions and high humidity are aiding the more than 1,000 Alberta firefighters, contract firefighters and imported firefighters currently battling wildfires across the province. Article content Alberta has imported firefighters and aircraft from British Columbia, Yukon, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Washington State, Oregon and Idaho. Article content Article content While some parts of the province, like Fort McMurray, are expecting a few days of rain, others including Grande Prairie and Edmonton are preparing for a week of low precipitation and warming weather, possibly reaching as high as 29C. Article content Article content A fire ban remains in place for northern and central parts of the province's Fire Protection Area, prohibiting wood fires on public or private land. Propane fire pits and barbecues are still allowed. Article content Article content Evacuees across the province are eligible for evacuation payments, and local governments are providing information on registration including when, where and what to bring. Article content Article content Emergency evacuation payments are a one-time payment available to Albertans displaced by mandatory evacuation orders for a minimum of seven days. The payment is meant to assist with the cost of evacuating and help with temporary accommodation and day-to-day costs. Article content Eligible families will receive $1,250 for each adult and $500 for each dependent under 18. These payments are not taxable and will not affect coverage received through insurance or benefit amounts for people who receive AISH or Income Support benefits. Article content Evacuees can only apply once during the same event, and will have up to 60 days to do so once an evacuation order begins. Article content Affected evacuees can apply online using your account. To receive money by e-transfer, you must have a verified account or apply for verification. You don't need to wait for your activation code in the mail before applying. E-transfer payments will be received within 24 hours.
Hamilton Spectator
29-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Grande Prairie disability advocates frustrated with province
Inclusion Grande Prairie held a town hall on Saturday to hear concerns regarding changes to the province's funding for people with disabilities. The two chairs reserved for local MLAs remained empty. 'It's so important to have a loud voice when speaking with this government because they have a tendency to ignore most of us,' said Keith Moore, Inclusion Grande Prairie president. Underfunding for disability programs, access to funds, upcoming AISH changes with the new Alberta Disability Assistance Program, and the province 'clawing back' the federal Canada Disability Benefit from individuals were among issues raised at the public event. The province is introducing the Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) expected to begin in July next year, but locals say there is not enough information for those who will be able to use it. 'We don't know what that new support level would be because there's just no information, and we have asked repeatedly,' said Moore. 'The trends with this government seem to be, let's just cut and cut and cut, people who are more vulnerable in our society are the ones that are targeted.' The province says ADAP will allow people with disabilities to pursue jobs while receiving the financial, medical, and personal support they need. It says ADAP will work alongside the current Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program. 'ADAP is going to be a lower monthly support but allow people to earn more income without it being deducted off their support,' said Moore. Currently, those on AISH have deductions from their monthly living allowance if they have income. Moore said currently AISH clients receive about $1,900 per month for food, rent and utilities. He noted the poverty line is about $2,400 a month in Edmonton. The Canada Disability Benefit (CBD) which could provide up to $200 a month was expected to help those with disabilities have more access to funds, but in Alberta CBD may add more barriers. Inclusion Alberta said in a media release that the province is requiring people on AISH to apply for the CBD but will then reduce their AISH payment by the received CBD amount. It says no other province is doing this. 'The CDB is meant to be a top-up, not a replacement for provincial disability income support,' said Trish Bowman, Inclusion Alberta CEO. 'Taking away a benefit that was intended to help reduce poverty for adults with disabilities is beyond comprehension.' About 77,000 Albertans are accessing AISH. The CBD has a $250 application fee, and approved clients need to qualify for the Disability Tax Credit that requires a medical assessment that may also come with a cost. 'It doesn't make sense,' shouted a person from the crowd at the town hall. Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) and Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) funding is also underfunded, says Moore. He cited the latest publicly available annual report from the Advocate for Persons with Disabilities (2022-23). 'The budget for 2025 did add some money in, but it didn't even keep up with inflation or the population growth,' he said. 'Every year, we're falling further and further behind, and that is basically what the advocates report for 2022 says — insufficient funds.' People at the town hall voiced their frustrations with a system some called 'dehumanizing.' Moore says he sent invites to Grande Prairie MLA Nolan Dyck and Grande Prairie-Wapiti MLA Ron Wiebe. 'We're going to present everything that was brought forward by families,' said Moore, 'we're going to get folks to write out their stories and everything and will go to the MLAs and again, requesting them specifically to respond to us.' 'We expect them to do their job as allies represent us; they were not elected to represent Premier Smith or the caucus,' said Moore. Moore says contact with the local MLAs has been difficult. 'They're not very accommodating for people who want to meet with them,' he said, noting the MLA offices indicated that they limit meetings to a maximum of 30 minutes, won't meet after 7 p.m. and won't meet with more than six people at a time. Giving each person five minutes isn't long enough to illustrate how funding is affecting a person, he said. Moore, who served on the board of the Inclusion Alberta until last month, said there was no consultation done regarding AISH or the upcoming changes with ADAP. He said he wanted to see Inclusion Alberta included in the changes to legislation, noting the organization represents families across Alberta and that Inclusion Grande Prairie represents many people in northwestern Alberta from Edson to LaCrete. He said it's not uncommon for the province to include stakeholders before making changes to legislation noting oil and gas companies were included in legislative changes to abandoned wellsites. In March, the Family Resource Centre in Grande Prairie was closed after provincial funding cuts. 'When we lost the Family Resource Centre, one of the responses from the province was, we do not fund advocacy we fund supports,' said Moore. 'We helped over 200 families, during the time it was operational, find a way around the community, connect them with supporting organizations within the community, help guide them through inclusive education.' He said that parents don't know how to navigate the system. The centre helped them navigate funding, ensuring their children received proper education and aid and parents got the education they needed. 'The interesting thing is that the (Persons with Developmental Disabilities) PDD office in Grande Prairie often referred people to us,' he said, 'that's basically because the PDD office is understaffed; they're maybe 50 per cent of what they were five years ago, in numbers.' Funding to the Family Resource Centre was cut from about $120,000 a year to $64,000, said Moore. He said the province has also stipulated the centre would need to provide courses that follow 'provincial scripts' every month, that would include provincial audits for compliance. Moore said after some conversations, the province indicated it is still funding the Office of the Advocate for Persons with Disabilities. The website stated that the office would visit communities and talk to organizations. 'I invited them to come out to Grande Prairie to talk with (Inclusion Grande Prairie), also the Autism Society - because they're in the same boat we are - and two weeks later, I got a phone call and the lady said they were unable to come out because they didn't know what their budget was and couldn't travel.' Moore then asked if they could accommodate a Zoom meeting and was told it would need to be before 7 p.m. Town & Country News reached out to the Ministry of Assisted Living and Social Services but did not receive a response before press time.
Hamilton Spectator
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
UCP faces barrage of disability and accessibility questions after rally-goers call for action and ‘meaningful consultation'
The NDP bombarded cabinet last week with questions and statements critical of the province's treatment of persons with disabilities. The onslaught by more than a dozen members of the Opposition caucus challenged the UCP on Alberta's lack of accessibility legislation, its dollar support for people with disabilities, and its approach to housing, health care and home care. Also on the hit list were wait times for services and programs, access to sports and recreation facilities, transportation in rural areas to and from appointments, and the evacuation of persons with disabilities during wildfires. The torrent came the same day that demonstrators with disabilities, their advocates and their allies rallied outside the legislature building. The ACT Now rally on May 6 called for immediate action on accessibility legislation and income support, along with 'meaningful consultation' with the community. For its part, the UCP accused the Opposition of ignoring its own record on the disability file while in power. Jason Nixon, the minister of seniors, community and social services, said he'll commit to 'continuing to fix the NDP mess in the disability space.' His government was accused of being opaque, cruel and non-inclusive in its processes under the Persons with Developmental Disabilities program. 'You want to talk about cruelty?' Nixon responded. 'That was (the NDP) continuing to bring forth consecutive budgets with no indexation, no increases to the major disability allowance, and completely abandoning the disability community and, more shockingly, continuing to force those who are on AISH that want to participate in employment to be punished, to have their wages clawed back for their hard work.' AISH stands for Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped, a monthly personal allowance in Alberta of up to $1,901. Nixon, the member for Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre, continued that 'on this side of the House we're proud to stand with the disability community, and we're proud to make programs that work for them and are the most generous and beneficial programs anywhere in this country.' Of the provinces, only Alberta and Prince Edward Island have no accessibility legislation. Through the Accessible Canada Act of 2019, the federal government is pushing for a barrier-free Canada by 2040. Legislation of this type typically paves the way for further actions over time, like the creation of standards and regulations, planning and strategic documents, reporting and monitoring structures, and even new bodies. In 2018 without accessibility legislation in place — federal or provincial — the NDP under Rachel Notley created the Advocate for Persons with Disabilities. Christina Gray, the NDP's leader in the assembly, said a lack of accessibility legislation locks 'hundreds of thousands of disabled Albertans' out of workplaces, schools and safe housing. Effects include poverty, isolation, unemployment and difficulty achieving basic levels of participation in society, she said. 'These should be priority issues for this premier,' said Gray, who characterized Danielle Smith as preoccupied with airing grievances with Ottawa. The premier also wants to distract Albertans from charges of corruption involving services procurement, she claimed. 'When will this government finally bring forward legislation?' Smith said a comprehensive review of programs involving persons with disabilities is underway through Seniors, Community and Social Services. A new assistance program is giving people with disabilities more options, she said. The province has increased money going to caregivers and is digging into what's behind waitlists in the Persons with Developmental Disabilities program. 'There are a lot of issues that have to be dealt with in (Nixon's) department, and he's working through them one at a time,' said the premier. One issue the NDP raised multiple times is that those receiving AISH won't be getting a further $200 through a federal disability benefit that starts in July. That's because 'this Premier believes AISH is enough,' said Marie Renaud, the NDP's shadow minister for community and social services. 'This premier gave her MLAs a housing allowance increase, citing affordability, but AISH recipients, nothing for you. Why?' asked Renaud, the member for St. Albert. But Nixon said AISH is $500 more than the allowance in comparable provinces and is the highest in Canada. 'To be very clear, the AISH benefit in our province is not changing,' he said, noting that the government is committed to keeping it indexed for inflation. Nixon added that spending continues to increase though the UCP putting 'more than the NDP government every dreamed of' towards disability services. Nixon repeatedly pegged UCP disabilities spending at $3.6 billion this year. Statistics Canada defines a person with a disability as someone 'whose daily activities are limited as a result of an impairment or difficulty with particular tasks.' In 2022 the agency found that about eight million Canadians, or 27 per cent of the population aged 15 or older, reported having at least one disability. That's about twice the percentage reported 10 years earlier. The province has said that in 2022 the percentage for Alberta was more than 21 per cent, which works out to more than one million people. Luanne Metz, the NDP member for Calgary-Varsity, said people with disabilities in Alberta have reduced access to health care that 'the rest of us take for granted.' Noting that the province's own disability advocate recommends legislation, she pointed to diagnostics equipment access, rural transportation for medical appointments and emergency room treatment as especially difficult for people with disabilities. Said Metz, a medical researcher and physician: 'For those of you who think the health system is not meeting their needs, let me assure you that it's even worse for people with disabilities.' Sharif Haji, the NDP member for Edmonton-Decore, mentioned a family 'collapsing under the pressure of unmet needs' as they wait for support through one program. Despite having a profoundly disabled daughter, the family have been waiting a year for a contract under Family Support for Children with Disabilities and have been told it could take another three years, he said. The UCP has 'essentially stopped FSCD intake,' Haji charged. Nixon responded that the FSCD budget is up about $30 million this year, saying intake does continue. 'We also acknowledge that a multi-decades-old program like FSCD has challenges (and) that we're working through a process to change.' The program was created when about one in 10,000 kids were diagnosed with autism, he said, while today the rate is one in 10. 'The difference between us and the NDP, though, is that we have the courage to fix these things,' said Nixon. Lethbridge-West MLA Rob Miyashiro of the NDP singled out funding cuts to three organizations providing community services for people with disabilities. Miyashiro said the groups in Lethbridge, Edmonton and Calgary lost a combined $420,000 in provincial money. Later cautioned by the speaker for insinuating that the UCP would intentionally harm Albertans, Miyashiro said: 'Will this minister just admit that these cruel cuts to services suggest that this government is obsessed with bullying our most vulnerable citizens?' Nixon said, however, that the organizations still receive $33 million 'to do their work' and that the province is being strategic about where it puts its money. Decisions are about 'making sure every one of the dollars. . .goes directly to helping people.' Samir Kayande, the NDP's chair of analytics and part of the leader's senior advisory team, said improving accessibility is the right thing to do as a caring society. There's also an economic case for disability legislation, he said. Research shows that GDP increases with the rising employment of people with disabilities. Kayande, the member for Calgary-Elbow, criticized research from what he called 'hard-right think tanks' that cherry-pick data and blame people with disabilities for the challenges they face. Persons with disabilities deserve fulfilled lives of dignity, he said. 'Our values as Albertans who care for each other demand it. Any of us could end up with a disability at any point in our lives.'
Edmonton Journal
09-05-2025
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
Albertans protest federal disability benefit clawback and call for accessibility legislation
'AISH is not going to change, but we could have had more money in our bank account,' advocate says Disability advocates, allies, and organizations gather in Edmonton outside the Alberta legislature for the Act NOW Rally on May 6, 2025, calling for urgent action on accessibility legislation, income support reform, and meaningful consultation with the disability community. David Bloom/Postmedia Dozens of Albertans came out to the legislature on Tuesday protesting clawbacks for the federal disability benefit and called on the province to put forward accessibility legislation. Starting in June, Albertans with disabilities can begin applying for the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) with the first payment of up to $200 expected in July. But while the province says the Assisted Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) payments will remain unchanged, advocates say the province will claw back the CDB benefit, garnering protests from those in the community. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Zachary Weeks, a disability advocate and rally organizer, said many people living on AISH are afraid to speak out in fear their benefits may be cut. Sitting in the gallery of the legislature on Tuesday, he said it was great to see many questions from the Alberta NDP directed to the UCP government on disability. 'Yes, AISH is not going to change, but we could have had more money in our bank account if (the government) did not claw back CDB,' Weeks said. 'I don't think anyone wants to live on AISH because it's a paltry amount, given the economy we're in and the amount of expenses for groceries and rent on top of that, it is a very rigorous process to get accepted onto AISH.' According to the province, there are approximately 77,000 Albertans on AISH. The maximum monthly allowance is $1,901. Weeks said having an extra $200 would give those with disabilities a 'little more breathing room,' whether it's to help with extra cost for medical supports or rent. Seniors, Community and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon. Photo by Darren Makowichuk / Postmedia Province touts new disability program to launch in July 2026 Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Starting July 2026, the province will implement the Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP), intended to ensure Albertans with disabilities are not negatively impacted from having a job, according to the province. The program will not be replacing AISH. Weeks said the province needs to have proper consultation with the community before moving forward with the program and said individuals should be able to choose between AISH and ADAP. Seniors, Community and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon defended the province's position and said the maximum monthly AISH payments plus $400 in health benefits and a tax reduction is 'above the poverty line.' 'We have regulations that have been in place under this government, the NDP government, the PC government, to calculate individual's income — income that you receive from the federal government, including things like Canadian Pension Plan are part of the calculation of income,' Nixon said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Alberta has the highest AISH payments in the country.' Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi spoke at the rally and said the UCP government 'actively works to make life worse.' He said what the province needs is accessibility legislation. 'I keep saying, don't they understand that what they're doing is not only not helpful, but is actually actively cruel,' Nenshi said. 'You all know that an extra $200 a month will let you exhale just a little bit, will let you breathe just a little bit easier when you're at the grocery counter.' ctran@ On X: @kccindytran Read More Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters. You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun Cult of Hockey Cult of Hockey Edmonton Oilers Columnists News
Calgary Herald
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Albertans protest federal disability benefit clawback and call for accessibility legislation
Article content Dozens of Albertans came out to the legislature on Tuesday protesting clawbacks for the federal disability benefit and called on the province to put forward accessibility legislation. Article content Article content Starting in June Albertans with disabilities can begin applying for the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) with the first payment of up to $200 expected in July. But while the province says the Assisted Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) payments will remain unchanged, advocates say the province will clawback the CDB benefit, garnering protests from those in the community. Article content Article content Zachary Weeks, a disability advocate and rally organizer, said many people living on AISH are afraid to speak out in fear their benefits may be cut. Sitting in the gallery of the legislature on Tuesday, he said it was great to see many questions from the Alberta NDP directed to the UCP government on disability. Article content 'I don't think anyone wants to live on AISH because it's a paltry amount, given the economy we're in and the amount of expenses for groceries and rent on top of that, it is a very rigorous process to get accepted onto AISH.' Article content Article content Article content Starting July 2026, the province will implement the Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP), intended to ensure Albertans with disabilities are not negatively impacted from having a job, according to the province. The program will not be replacing AISH. Article content Article content Weeks said the province needs to have proper consultation with the community before moving forward with the program and said individuals should be able to choose between AISH and ADAP. Article content Seniors, Community and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon defended the province's position and said the maximum monthly AISH payments plus $400 in health benefits and a tax reduction is 'above the poverty line.' Article content 'We have regulations that have been in place under this government, the NDP government, the PC government, to calculate individual's income — income that you receive from the federal government, including things like Canadian Pension Plan are part of the calculation of income,' Nixon said.
