Open letter to Premier Smith

By Lethbridge Herald on March 20, 2026.

Editor: 

When Premier Peter Lougheed’s government established the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program in January 1979, it was so that those unable to earn enough to live, could have an assured income. In contrast to Bill 12 (Dec. 22, 2025) they were not “permanently unemployable”. AISH was specifically designed separate from the standard welfare system so that Albertans with severe permanent disabilities could live with dignity and independence. Premier Lougheed understood that we each live just one incident away from a severely disabling event.

Premier Smith, your government has eliminated “Assured Income” from AISH and continues gutting this program by: -July 1, 2025: clawing back the $200/ month Canada Disability Benefit.

-October 2025: increasing rent by $220/month for AISH recipients living in community housing;

-January 1, 2026: capping the AISH Inflation index below inflation at 2%;

-July 1, 2026: planning fund reduction to AISH recipients moved to ADAP by $200/month which they may make up through earnings.

Even though every person currently on AISH went through the exact same rigourous assessment and application process, they have recently been divided into AISH and Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP). On March 8, 2026, Assisted Living and Social Services (ALSS) announced specific AISH groups “need not reapply” (i.e. remain on AISH): palliative patients, people over 60 and individuals receiving

Persons with Developmental Disabilities

(PDD) services. No reasons were given for exclusion of those with severe physical and mental disabilities.

wAs ALSS has given no justification for their March 8th changes, no-one should be forced onto ADAP to reapply for AISH. All current recipients should remain on AISH as it was, working if they wish. Please cancel the cruel ADAP before it causes any more anxiety and grief to individuals on AISH, their families and advocates. Thank you.

Bev Muendel-Atherstone, Chair

Lethbridge Friends of Medicare