Marie Renaud, Alberta New Democrat Shadow Minister for Community and Social Services, issued the following statement in response to the UCP government enforcing an automatic AISH clawback:

“Disabled Albertans deserve respect from their government, not lies and gaslighting. Yet, the UCP government continues to spread misinformation, mislead Albertans about supports, and create fear and confusion for people with disabilities.

“Danielle Smith made a deliberate choice to claw back the new federal disability benefit from some of Alberta’s poorest citizens. The $200 benefit was meant to lift people out of poverty. Instead, the UCP government is using it as an excuse to cut provincial supports. It’s a cruel policy, followed by a shockingly incompetent rollout.

“The UCP government has given low-income AISH recipients until September 5 to report whether they’ve applied for the Canada Disability Benefit so the province can deduct $200 from their monthly AISH payment. If they don’t notify the government, the UCP government will deduct the $200 anyway, even if they haven’t received a cent from the federal benefit. That is not just unfair; it is theft disguised as policy.

“The UCP government also falsely claims AISH recipients will be reimbursed for physician fees related to applying for the federal benefit. In reality, those costs can only be claimed as tax deductions, offering little to no relief for people already struggling.

“Under the UCP government, AISH benefits have been cut and de-indexed, waitlists have grown, and services have been eroded. These harmful policies don’t just hurt people with disabilities—they hurt all Albertans by driving more demand for food banks, shelters, and hospitals.

“The Alberta New Democrat Caucus is calling on the UCP government to stop the cuts, end the clawbacks, and let Albertans with disabilities keep the supports they need and deserve.”