Alberta Premier Danielle Smith moves to overhaul social services

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is looking to make major changes to social services and income support, including re-indexing the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped program (AISH).

In multiple letters sent to cabinet ministers Wednesday, Smith imposed mandates to address issues related to cost of living, affordability, childcare services, education, and senior benefits, among others.

She asked Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services Jeremy Nixon to adjust programs such as AISH for inflation going forward.

AISH provides financial benefits to help eligible Albertans with permanent medical conditions earn a living.

The Notley government started indexing AISH in 2018, which adjusted payments for inflation. The former Premier Jason Kenney’s United Conservative Party (UCP) cabinet suspended the indexing of AISH benefits the next year.

The premier also outlined plans to implement Alberta’s 10-year “Stronger Foundations” affordable housing strategy and to develop a plan to strengthen the province’s food banks.

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Premier Danielle Smith says that AISH and other income supports be adjusted for inflation.

This is part of mandate letters sent to ministers to address affordability issues in Alberta. #yeg #yyc #ableg pic.twitter.com/5jqcjtx7So

— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) November 9, 2022

Mandate letters were sent to six ministries, including Affordability and Utilities, Children’s Services, Minister of Culture, Education, Municipal Affairs and Seniors, and Community and Social Services.

Smith sent the letters to her ministers the same day she sent a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau demanding federal action on affordability.

Affordability and Utilities

Smith instructed Minister of Affordability and Utilities Matt Jones to focus on ambulance care, job creation through diversification of the economy, and “to keep the inflation and affordability crisis top of mind.”

She also asked him to outline inflation relief measures to help with the cost of living, and to review pricing and regulation of electricity and natural gas, with the goal to reduce “transmission and distribution costs.”

Children’s Services

The Minister of Children’s Services Mickey Amery has been tasked with finding ways to help make adoption easier and more affordable, to hold unlicensed day homes accountable for the children they look after, and to also find a way to make those homes seek training to become licensed.

She also asked for her ministers to work with the federal government on the child care agreement to “ensure the equitable inclusion of private child care operators.”

Culture

Smith asked Minister of Culture Jason Luan to focus on promoting and celebrating “Alberta’s unique cultural identity and heritage,” to develop a strategy to invest in cultural and heritage sites, and to provide a “world-class” experience for tourists and visitors attending heritage sites.

She wants to see a naming policy focused on Alberta culture, a focus on Albertan artists, and a focus on Alberta-made productions when it comes to cultural industries.

She adds Luan should find ways to support Alberta youth in sports, support the Francophone community, and continue support for women pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) where they are underrepresented. Lastly, Smith asked for more focus on support for victims of domestic abuse.

Education

Minister of Education Adriana LaGrange is being tasked with finding strategies in a number of areas. Smith wants to get more educational assistants for the short- and long-term, and to find ways to increase the number of schools in Alberta. The premier also wants to “attract and retain the most qualified teachers in the country,” and to build up responsive programming directed at making polytechnic education more available.

Smith wants to see more colleges offer online options for better access to education, for LaGrange to address transportation costs and times for school boards and families, and to work with health officials to look into expanding access to physical therapists and psychologists in schools.

She also wants to see continued support for “parental choice throughout our education system.”

Municipal Affairs

Minister of Municipal Affairs Rebecca Schulz is being asked to support other ministers, along with reviewing the structure and effectiveness of the Calgary and Edmonton Metropolitan Region Boards to “ensure they are effectively serving their residents.”

Smith has asked Schulz to work with the Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, to cut red tape and create a more attractive business investment environment.

The premier revealed these plans just one day after her Brooks-Medicine Hat byelection win late Tuesday.

Legislature will reconvene on Nov. 29, where Smith has said she would bring in the Alberta “Sovereignty Act” as one of her first orders of business.

–With files from The Canadian Press