Many Albertans rely on our social safety net for survival
By Lethbridge Herald on July 25, 2025.
Editor,
A few years ago, I drove a young person to Calgary for a medical appointment. He was gradually losing his vision due to diabetic retinopathy, and he was on AISH – Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped. He had no support from his family. He lived in an “illegal” basement suite, advertised as such by the owner.
The steps to the basement were original from when the house was built – planks, open risers, a single railing on the left attached to the wall, the right open.
Half the basement floor was cement. The other half was dirt, with a small piece of linoleum sitting on the dirt. The single window, opaque and dirty, was just under the ceiling, in a window well. There was a bar fridge and a two-element electric stovetop. He used the food bank as much as he was allowed.
There may indeed be some individuals who take advantage of our social safety net.
This young person provides us with a reminder that there are many whose lives literally depend on the existence of that safety net.
Leslie Lavers
Lethbridge
9-8
We should not punish all on AISH or any benefit based on abuse of a few. There are too many struggling to make ends meet or are homeless in a country that subsidieses corporations which make huge profits for their shareholders. Also, cities spend tax dollars on what they deem necessary projects to accommodate a small minority of citizens while cost of living skyrockets and homeless wander the street. Priority must be given to those citizens in need.
Income tax cheats are more likely than cheating on AISH. 9.5 times out of 10, it takes 2 or more tries before someone gets AISH, and it’s been that way for a long time. Given how expensive it is in Alberta for things, such as rent, power (Ralph Klein’s deregulation of electricity, TransAlta manipulating power prices in Alberta, and economic witholding from the UCP, are the causes), groceries are so costly, and so on, why would someone want to covet an income that is impossible to live off of? Also, not all disabilities are visible.
bravo! and further agree with chmie’s entry.
I don’t believe their are very many Albertans abusing AISH. If any at all. The UPC’s primary concern is for the welfare of big business, not the disabled community. Have we already forgotten how Ralph Klein mocked people on AISH when he was premier. MLA’s from Alberta should try existing on AISH for 6 months. They would soon learn just how effective the AISH program is when dealing with Alberta’s inflationary food prices and sky rocketing rents.
I remember that. It came with a $100 million price tag, which was one of his least costly debacles. He did far more costlier debacles than that.