Urgent Protest Planned in Calgary Over Disability Benefits Cuts

UPDATE: A major protest is set to unfold in Calgary on Friday, as grassroots organizations rise up against the United Conservative Party’s (UCP) controversial changes to disability support. The protest, dubbed a “Die-In,” aims to spotlight what activists are calling “life-threatening policy changes” impacting vulnerable Albertans.

The demonstration will occur outside the McDougall building starting at 2 p.m., with a second wave of protests beginning around 5 p.m.. Organizers are calling for immediate attention to the proposed overhaul of the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program, which is set to shift tens of thousands of individuals with disabilities into the new Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP), slated to begin in July 2026.

Under the new ADAP, the maximum monthly benefit will be reduced to $1,740, which is $200 less than the current AISH benefits. Authorities argue that the changes will modernize disability supports by differentiating between those who are permanently unable to work and those who may have some capacity for employment. However, advocacy groups vehemently oppose this, stating that the transition will push many disabled Albertans further into poverty.

“We want disabled voices to be heard. With all the changes to the health-care system and to AISH, it doesn’t feel like disabled voices were really taken into consideration,” said Kasper Payea, co-host of the Die-In protest. The rally aims not only to protest the planned cuts but also to rally support for stronger disability protections.

As the protest looms, community leaders and attendees will hear from speakers who will outline how to support disabled Albertans during this critical time. The stakes are high, and the message is clear: the community is demanding that the UCP halt the rollout of ADAP and preserve existing AISH benefits.

This urgent protest comes amid growing concerns about the impact of these policy changes on Alberta’s most vulnerable populations. As the clock ticks down to the implementation of ADAP, the fight for fair and adequate disability support is intensifying.

Stay tuned for updates as this story develops and the voices of those affected by these changes are amplified.