Terri Grills (rdnewsNOW/Ian Gustafson)

By Ian Gustafson

AISH supports

Petition opposed to new provincial ADAP comes to Red Deer

Oct 30, 2025 | 5:20 PM

A petition calling for the provincial government to halt the transition from the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) to the Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) made its way to Red Deer on Thursday.

A rally was held outside city hall asking for signatures to help their cause, which is also asking to cancel the ADAP program and maintain the existing AISH supports.

They’re also asking the provincial government to ensure that all applicants for disability assistance have access to a fair appeal process.

Red Deerian Terri Grills was at city hall asking for signatures to help support the cause.

She said AISH already allows people to work, so it makes little sense to remove everyone to another program.

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The petition was started a few weeks ago, and Grills said they have until March to get the petition in so it can be presented at the Alberta Legislature.

“The goal is to stop the proposed changes to the AISH program because the ADAP program is dangerous for people with disabilities,” she said. “The plan to remove everybody off of AISH is absolutely criminal and could potentially cost lives.”

The petition highlights five reasons to cancel the ADAP program, which they say would reduce support for Albertans with disabilities in a number of ways.

Some of these ways include a $200 reduction in the monthly benefit and a clawback of the $200 per month federal benefit dollar-for-dollar.

There will also be reduced earning exemptions. The petition says AISH recipients earn up to $1,072 per month before clawbacks and ADAP cuts that to $350 per month, punishing those who try to find work.

Those on AISH will be automatically transferred to ADAP on July 1, 2026.

“I’ve been a foster parent for 25 years, and I have raised many kids who are now adults on AISH. I have another one right now who’s 16, and we’ve started his application for AISH because it takes a very long time. He’s profoundly disabled, and so to have to jump through those extra hoops is ridiculous,” she added.

Those hoping to sign the petition can sign it in-person at Junktiques located on Little Gaetz.

In a statement from the press secretary of the Ministry of Assisted Living and Social Services, Amber Edgerton, she said AISH remains fully funded and available to Albertans with disabilities who are unable to work.

The following statement is below:

The Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) will empower Albertans with disabilities who are able to work to pursue fulfilling job opportunities while continuing to receive the supports they need. ADAP will allow for the highest level of employment income in the country while receiving benefits, meaning Albertans on ADAP can earn more from working while continuing to receive their financial benefits. These financial benefits are in addition to health and personal benefits, which Albertans on ADAP will continue to receive regardless of their employment income.

Alberta’s government will ensure Albertans on ADAP have customized, one-on-one support and access to the resources and tools they need to gain new skills and work to their full potential. We recently launched WorkFirst Alberta, our government’s unprecedented $185 million investment in career and employment services, which will expand employment supports to connect Albertans to jobs and employers to job seekers.

Alberta’s government is committed to using the insights and experiences of Albertans with disabilities to help shape the new program. We thank Albertans for sharing their feedback throughout the engagement to help shape the Alberta Disability Assistance Program.

Back in August, the government put out a call for public feedback on the matter. Edgerton explained they are reviewing feedback received throughout the engagement.

More information will be shared in the coming weeks.