Rally held in Strathmore voicing concerns over disability benefit program changes

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Dissenting voices in Strathmore are making themselves heard regarding ongoing changes being made by the province to income for the severely handicapped. 

A rally was hosted in Kinsmen Park, July 3, to protest Alberta’s transition from the AISH program (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped), to ADAP (Alberta Disability Assistance Program). 

“It is time to let the city people know that rural Alberta is not a monolith of conservativism, that there (are) actually a lot of progressive and liberal thinkers in rural Alberta,” said Allison Turnbull, organizer of Friday’s rally. “A lot of people are really upset about what is happening in AISH with the switch to ADAP, and which was the focus of our rally. We have a lot of disabled members in our community in Strathmore who are very scared, very worried that they are going to lose housing, that they are going to lose their doctors, they are going to lose a lot with the switch.”

Beginning July 1 under the new ADAP system, many individuals relying on disability supports are now receiving $200 less per month than on the previous system, which had provided $1,940 monthly. 

Last month, 57-year-old local was reported to have died by suicide after sending a message to government officials criticizing the transition, and that the impending changes had intensified his anxiety, stress, and depression symptoms. 

The Alberta government has said the new system is intended to create a system that can better distinguish who may be able to participate in the local workforce with supports, and those who cannot work at all. 

Turnbull added she is concerned that there are too many different answers being told to those in the disabled community, should anyone be able to receive an answer at all.

“A lot of progressive seniors are very unhappy with the direction the province is going. They spent a lifetime building a province and don’t want to see it being sold off to foreign investment and people who do not care if our water is clean, if our air is clean, if our disabled people have any quality of life,” she said. “We are hoping to do another in August. There are a lot of different issues to focus on: healthcare, education, just general survival.”

She added yet another rally aims to be hosted in Strathmore come Oct. 17, shortly prior to the Alberta separation referendum. 

For those wishing to take an interest or take part in the rallies and making their voices heard, information is being made available through Fight Back Now’s website and social media channels, as well as on local events pages.