December 3 marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a global observance promoting accessibility, equality, and the removal of barriers that prevent full participation in society. This year’s theme, “Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress,” underscores the need for policies that empower rather than marginalize people with disabilities.
But in Alberta, disability advocates say the provincial government’s recently introduced Bill 12 moves in the opposite direction. The legislation restructures income supports by creating the Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) and altering the long-standing Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program.
Inclusion Alberta critique
According to Inclusion Alberta, Bill 12 will cut benefits by $200 per month, reduce earnings exemptions from $1,072 to $350, and eliminate legislated cost-of-living adjustments. The group warns these changes will push thousands of Albertans with disabilities deeper into poverty and strip away appeal rights for those moved from AISH to ADAP.
“Bill 12 confirms their deepest fears of increased poverty and uncertainty,” said Trish Bowman, CEO of Inclusion Alberta.
Advocates argue the bill assumes people with severe disabilities can easily find work despite systemic barriers such as discrimination, transportation gaps, and Alberta’s eight per cent unemployment rate.
“The options are either having benefits cut and trying to scrape by in the job market or being confined to a program that fosters isolation,” Bowman added.
Activism
As communities across Canada celebrate inclusion on December 3, disability organizations including Inclusion Alberta are calling on the Alberta government to halt Bill 12 and engage in meaningful consultation.
The proposed changes could affect more than 79,000 Albertans, who are currently on AISH, contends Inclusion Alberta.
Government’s position
The UCP government states that ADAP helps Albertans with disabilities achieve the highest employment income in Canada while continuing to receive financial support.
“With these amendments, we’re opening the door for people with disabilities to build the careers they want without having to sacrifice the supports they rely on, and we’re cleaning up outdated processes so families can get the help they need, when they need it,” stated Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services, Jason Nixon.
Bill 12
The Financial Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2) – Bill 12 was introduced by the Alberta government on Tuesday, Nov. 25. Apart from seeking to transition the AISH program to ADAP, it has another proposal that aims to protect the Alberta Investment Management Corp., or AIMCo, from actions taken before November 2024.
In 2020, AIMCo, which manages pensions for Alberta public sector workers lost $2.1 billion in trading.
Several pension plans including the Special Forces Pension Plan, Local Authorities Pension Plan, and Public Service Pension Plan have engaged in litigation to recoup some $1.3 billion.
Some other Bill 12 proposals:
- Shield AIMCo from lawsuits over pension losses
- Aims to “protect companies from unfair lawsuits when they make good-faith climate-related financial disclosures.”
- Cracks down on what the government calls market misinformation
- Allows the Alberta Securities Commission to halt trading for up to 15 days if misinformation poses a risk to investors
- Amends the AISH Act to launch ADAP in July 2026, combining AISH and ADAP under one framework
