07/30/2026
Over the past several weeks, and especially over the past 24 hours, my phone hasn’t stopped ringing and dinging.
My inbox has been flooded with emails. My page has been inundated with messages. I’ve heard from people through Messenger, Signal, text messages, phone calls, and comments from every corner of Alberta. Disabled Albertans, family members, caregivers, and front-line workers are all reaching out with the same question:
“What is happening?”
Since yesterday’s widespread payment issues, that uncertainty has only intensified.
I’ve heard from people who received less than they were expecting. Others received more than they were expecting. Some received no payment at all. Many have spent hours on hold trying to get answers, only to receive conflicting information depending on who they spoke with.
Every one of those messages represents a real person wondering how they’re going to pay their rent, buy groceries, fill a prescription, pay their utility bill, or simply make it through the next few weeks. Yesterday wasn’t just a “technical glitch”.
I want to say something directly to every disabled Albertan and every family affected by this.
I’m sorry. 💚
I’m sorry that this has happened to you. I’m sorry that instead of feeling confident your benefits would arrive as expected, many of you have spent the last 24 hours feeling anxious, frustrated, confused, and uncertain about how you’re going to make ends meet.
That apology shouldn’t be coming from me. It should be coming from Premier Danielle Smith and the Minister responsible for this transition.
But whether that apology comes or not, the reality remains the same: you should never have been put in this position in the first place.
No one should have to wonder whether they’ll be able to pay their rent because of a government error.
No one should have to spend hours navigating government bureaucracy just to find out whether they’ll be able to buy groceries or afford their medication.
And no disabled Albertan should ever be left carrying the weight of mistakes they didn’t make.
When government systems fail, the consequences aren’t measured in spreadsheets or internal reports. They’re measured in missed meals. Missed medications. Overdue rent. Sleepless nights. The overwhelming stress that comes from not knowing whether the income you depend on will be there when you need it most.
The Government of Alberta owes Albertans more than assurances that the issue is being investigated. More importantly, it owes them action.
Albertans deserve to know how many people have been affected, what caused these issues, how long they are expected to last, and what is being done to ensure every affected person receives the support they are entitled to without unnecessary delays or added hardship.
Premier Danielle Smith needs to hear directly from the disabled Albertans living with the consequences of her government’s decisions.
If you have been affected by the AISH-to-ADAP transition or the recent payment failures, I encourage you to call the Premier’s radio show (Calgary: 403-974-8255 Edmonton: 780-496-0063) and respectfully share what you have experienced.
Tell her directly how these decisions and payment errors are affecting your ability to pay your rent, buy groceries, access medication, cover your utilities, and live with dignity.
This isn’t about attacking anyone. It’s about ensuring the people making decisions hear directly from the people living with the consequences.
Be firm. Be respectful. Be heard.
This also needs to be a turning point and I’m optimistic that we can create a movement of unity when and where it matters most. At the next election with our votes.
Disabled Albertans shouldn’t only be consulted after problems arise. They need to be meaningfully involved before decisions are made. The people who rely on these programs every day bring expertise that no briefing note or policy document can replicate. It’s about people first.
It’s about restoring confidence in a system that exists to support some of Alberta’s most vulnerable citizens.
To everyone who has reached out to me over the past several weeks, and especially over the last 24 hours, thank you for trusting me with your stories.
Please know that I hear you. I believe you.
And I will continue doing everything I can to make sure your voices are heard. Every Albertan deserves the dignity of knowing they can rely on that lifeline when they need it most.
