Guest blog by Dr. Ginetta Salvalaggio (Professor at the University of Alberta Department of Family Medicine) and Petra Schulz, (Disability rights advocate).

TLDR

• The Government of Alberta is cutting its budget at the expense of its most vulnerable residents.
• Starting July 2026, all of the 77,000 AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped) recipients will be moved to the new Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP), which is employment focused.
• To get back on AISH, those unable to work will be required to reapply with a full medical form completed by a physician—a significant administrative burden for overworked physicians.
• ADAP provides the same health benefits as AISH, but provides $200 less income per month ($1,740 per month vs. the 2025 AISH rate of $1,940).
• Employment earning exemptions will drop from $1000 per month to $350 under both programs.
• Effective 2025, Alberta is the only province to claw back the $200 per month from the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB).

Winter has arrived while a record number of Albertans are living unhoused or without stable housing. The combination of cold weather and a lack of housing are already adding totally preventable pressures on to our hospitals, emergency services and health care system.

EDMONTON — Every year, November 20 is the Transgender Day of Remembrance. It is a day to mourn, remember and honour those who have lost their lives due to transphobia and anti-transgender violence.

EDMONTON — Yesterday, Premier Danielle Smith’s government tabled new legislation that includes major new restrictions on access to gender-affirming health care. If passed, this legislation will infringe on the rights of transgender, non-binary, Two-Spirit and gender diverse Albertans to access the health care services they need, when they need them.

EDMONTON — Before announcing her plan for education infrastructure, Premier Smith’s 10-minute televised address opened last night with an extended anti-immigration rant, blaming folks moving here from other countries for Alberta’s lack of capacity in health, housing and education. 

This afternoon, the federal government tabled their 2024-2025 budget. Included is funding for the continued expansion of national dental care coverage, and crucial funding for the roll out of universal, single-payer Pharmacare — both key commitments in the Confidence and Supply Agreement between the NDP and the Liberals.

A Reflection on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation:

We cannot claim to have universal Medicare without ensuring it includes everyone. This means getting serious about finally addressing the deep health inequities that Indigenous people continue to face in our province and country; it means taking the necessary action to close the structural gaps to accessing care; it means meaningfully addressing the social determinants of health; and it means dismantling the systemic racism built into our health care system.

On Sunday, September 17, Migrants Rights Network and allies in cities across the country will be holding a nation-wide Day of Action for Status for All. Friends of Medicare will be joining Migrante Alberta, and other advocates at the Alberta Legislature, to call on the federal government to keep their promise to ensure regularization for undocumented migrants and permanent resident status for all without further delay.

Friends of Medicare helped to coordinate the day of action event outside of the office of federal cabinet minister Randy Boissonnault.

Alberta still has a long way to go to achieve gender equality

Gender remains an important social determinant of health—We know that gender-based discrimination and ongoing gender inequality in our society results in increased health risks and poorer outcomes. Far too many Albertans still do not have proper access to reproductive and sexual health care, or gender-affirming health care.