Minister defends introduction of ADAP to Alberta disability benefit framework

By ZOE MASON on March 13, 2026.

zmason@medicinehatnews.com

At an unrelated press conference Thursday, Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services Jason Nixon responded to concerns aboutorthcoming changes to the province’s disability benefit framework.

Despite pushback from advocacy groups and critics, and requests by several municipal governments to pause the implementation of the changes, Nixon stands by Alberta’s disability income support services.

“We already had the best disability support program in Canada, there’s no doubt about that,” he said. “By adding ADAP now, we take it to the next level.”

Nixon says the increase in the AISH program design and delivery budget reflects caseload growth.

As of September 2025, 79,290 people were receiving AISH, a 1.7 per cent increase from the caseload in 2024 and 4.1 per cent higher than 2023.

In Budget 2026, the overall budget for disability income assistance is increasing by $36 million.

Program planning and delivery has had its budget doubled, accounting for an increase of $41.6 million. Financial assistance grants, which account for the bulk of the $1.7-billion budget, are actually expected to decrease from the 2025-26 forecast by about $5 million.

Nixon suggests ADAP will increase eligibility for disability income supports, allowing individuals who had not qualified for AISH to receive benefits, including medical coverage, under ADAP.

“By bringing in the ADAP program, which the requirements will be if you can work but you still need disability supports, you’re now creating an opportunity, not only for people that are on AISH, to be able to participate in the workforce when and if they can.”

AISH was originally introduced in 1979. Nixon says the program was intended to support individuals who could not work whatsoever, and has evolved to meet other challenges in the disability community over time. The introduction of ADAP, he says, will restore AISH to its original intentions.

“AISH, by law, is a program that is legislated to be for individuals who can’t work,” he said. “That’s how it was created in 1978.”

He says this will expand access to disability services for Albertans with disabilities who have access to gainful work.

“For thousands of Albertans who have tried to access disability support in this process, but were not eligible because they didn’t meet that tough criteria of not being able to work, to now receive disability supports and employment support, to be able to make sure that they get the best opportunities they can in the province.”

Nixon said transition supports will be available until Jan. 1, 2028.

“I think we need to let the medical teams and everybody go through that process systematically and calmly, with the ultimate goal of making sure that everybody is in the best spot for their circumstances.”

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