City urges pause on disability benefit changes

Summary#

Calgary City Council adopted a notice of motion brought by Councillor Schmidt on April 28, 2026. It asks the Mayor to write to the Alberta government urging it to pause changes to AISH and ADAP, consult affected people and groups, and report on impacts before proceeding. The stated goal is to advocate for Calgary residents with disabilities; the motion does not change provincial law or benefits.

  • The Mayor is asked to write a letter advocating for an immediate pause to implementation of the recent AISH and ADAP changes.
  • The letter is to call for accessible consultation with people with disabilities, advocacy organizations, community partners and municipalities.
  • It is also to call for a public report on social and economic impacts for people with disabilities in Calgary and on municipal programs before the province moves forward.
  • The motion passed 11 to 4. Councillors McLean, Tyers, Jamieson and Johnston voted against.

What it means for you#

  • Calgarians receiving AISH or ADAP: The decision does not change your eligibility, benefit amount, appeal rights or program placement. It asks the Mayor to advocate to the Alberta government about its changes.
  • People with disabilities and community organizations: The requested letter is to call for consultation, but the motion does not set up a City consultation process or require the Alberta government to hold one.
  • City programs and taxpayers: The motion asks for a report on impacts to municipal programs. It does not itself change City services or spending.

Money#

No cost information is in the available material.

  • The motion does not authorize spending or state a cost for writing the letter.
  • Its background says provincial changes could add financial and administrative pressure to City programs and City-supported organizations, but gives no estimate.

What is unclear#

  • The motion does not set a deadline for the Mayor’s letter or say whether it has been sent.
  • It does not say how the Alberta government is expected to respond, or require the province to pause the changes, consult, or publish a report.
  • The motion’s background says about 23,000 Calgary AISH recipients would move to ADAP and describes changes to benefits, cost-of-living adjustments and appeal rights. The supplied material does not independently verify those details.

Case for#

  • The motion’s background says the Alberta changes would reduce benefits, remove a legislated guarantee of annual cost-of-living adjustments, and provide no right of appeal for placement decisions. A pause could give the province time to consult before proceeding.
  • The motion’s background says lower benefits could increase the risk of food, financial and housing insecurity, and add pressure to City programs and community organizations.
  • The requested public report could provide information about effects on Calgary residents and municipal programs before the province moves forward.

Case against#

  • The decision only requests advocacy by letter. It cannot itself pause the provincial changes or require the province to consult or report.
  • The motion does not set out how consultation or impact reporting should be done, or what action Council would take if the province proceeds.
  • Councillors McLean, Tyers, Jamieson and Johnston voted against the motion; the minutes provided do not give their reasons.

Votes

Calgary City Council, item 9.4.3 (Notice of Motion - Advocacy on behalf of Calgary Residents related to the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) Act and the Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP), EC2026-0330): That with respect to Revised Notice of Motion EC2026-0330, the following be adopted, after amendment: BE IT RESOLVED that Council request the Mayor to write a letter to the Government of Alberta advocating for them to: - Immediately pause implementation of the recent changes to the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped Act and Alberta Disability Assistance program; - Undertake meaningful, ac…

For (73%)
Against (27%)

Executive Committee, item 5.2.1 (Notice of Motion - Advocacy on behalf of Calgary Residents related to the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) Act and the Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP), EC2026-0330): That with respect to Notice of Motion EC2026-0330, the following be approved: That the Executive Committee forward this Notice of Motion to the 2026 April 28 Regular Meeting of Council for consideration.

For (80%)
Against (20%)