Alberta

Updated March 27, 2010
Page révisée le 27 mars 2010

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* Key Welfare Links in AB (scroll down to the grey box below, right column)
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* Non-governmental sites in AB

Alberta cuts education support for low-income students
March 26, 2010
CALGARY — The Alberta government is cutting $12.5 million from Alberta Works, a welfare program that helps adults with lower incomes upgrade their education. Under the current program, a qualifying apprentice with no children is eligible for $869 a month in addition to EI to help cover job-related expenses, as well as childcare and rent costs. That will decrease to $834. Similarly, a couple with two children who once collected $2,302 a month in provincial welfare benefits will receive only $1,847. According to provincial Employment and Immigration Minister Thomas Lukaszuk, the changes are meant to equalize benefits for all students collecting income support under what's known as the "learner" category. Currently, two students with the same family size can conceivably receive different levels of funding, he said.

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Tory cuts sting poor:
Welfare rates rolled back for adult education
March 27, 2010
Premier Ed Stelmach acknowledged Friday that provincial budget cuts will erode services for Alberta's most vulnerable, but stressed his government will minimize fallout on welfare recipients, foster parents and the disabled. After a week of being criticized by social agencies and political opponents for cuts to foster care and adults with developmental disabilities, the Stelmach government announced Friday rollbacks of welfare rates for Albertans looking to upgrade their education.

Source:
Calgary Herald

Related links:

Child and Family Benefits
- includes links to info about the following programs:
* Canada Child Tax Benefit
* Universal Child Care Benefit
* Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax Credit
* Working Income Tax Benefit
* National Child Benefit Supplement
* Child Disability Benefit
* Provincial and territorial programs
* MORE...
Source:
Canada Revenue Agency

Performance Measurement Publications - The Measuring Up component of the government annual report provides information on the government's progress in meeting social and economic goals published in the previous year's Government Business Plan
- incl. links to individual ministry business plans

Alberta Employment and Immigration
(formerly Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry)
(and before that, Human Resources and Employment)
- incl. links to : * Business & Industry * Career & Employment * Family Supports * Immigration * Office of Statistics & Information * Regional Development * Safe & Fair Workplaces * Francophone Secretariat * more...

Financial, Child Support & Health Benefits
- incl. links to: * Alberta Works * Income Support * Child Support Services * Health Benefits * Financial Support for Training * Alberta Works For Farmers * Canadian Agricultural Skills Service * National Child Benefit * Settlement of Class Action

Alberta Works
Alberta Works focuses on training people for employment.
The goals of Alberta Works are to help unemployed people find and keep jobs, help employers meet their need for skilled workers, and help Albertans with low incomes cover their basic costs of living. Alberta Works achieves these goals through its four program areas: Employment and Training Services, Income Support, Health Benefits and Child Support Services.

Income Support
Income Support provides financial benefits to individuals and families who do not have the resources to meet their basic needs, like food, clothing and shelter.

Child Support Services
Child Support Services helps single parents and parents living in blended families get the legal agreements or court orders they need to obtain child support.

Health Benefits
Through Alberta Works, people who are eligible for income support receive health benefits for themselves and their dependants.

Financial Support for Training
Tuition, books and supplies, and living allowance may be available if you qualify as an eligible learner.

Alberta Works...for farmers
A program to help farm families through brief periods of financial difficulty.

Department responsible for welfare
Alberta Employment and Immigration
(formerly Employment, Immigration and Industry)
(formerly Human Resources and Employment)

Name of the welfare program
Income Support - part of Alberta Works
NOTE: Welfare and grant funding for students (ESL, upgrading and occupational training) are under the Income Support program

Policy Manual
Income Support Program Policy
Expected to Work/Not Expected to Work Policy & Procedures ===> main welfare policy
--- News and Updates
Learner Policy and Procedures
--- News and Updates
See also:
Alberta Works Policy Manual
On this page, you'll find links to:
- Income and Employment Supports Act and Regulation
- Employment and Training Programs (Programs and Services, Accountability, Employment Insurance Initiatives, News and Updates)
- Child Support Services (Child Support Services Policy, News and Updates)
- Health Benefits Programs (General Policy, Health Benefits Card Coverage, Alberta Adult Health Benefit, Alberta Child Health Benefit, Health Benefits Review Committee, News and Updates)

October 22, 2008
Province provides more help to Albertans in need
Increases to benefits and earning exemptions will help those who need it most
Albertans receiving Alberta Works income support will receive higher monthly benefits beginning November 1. In addition single Albertans who work and qualify for income support assistance will see earning exemptions double from $115 to $230 a month - meaning they can make more money before their benefits are affected. (...) The maximum qualifying income levels for the Alberta Child Health Benefit (ACH) and Alberta Adult Health Benefit (AAHB) also increased allowing families to earn more and remain eligible for the benefit.

Albertans on welfare to get payment boost
October 24, 2008
Albertans in 46,500 households receiving welfare payments will get a boost in their monthly payments next week. On Nov. 1, those who receive income support through Alberta Works -- the government's official name for welfare -- will receive an increase after the province approved a rate hike. (...) Earning exemptions will double to $230 from $115 a month, meaning those Albertans can make more money before their benefits are affected. Of the 4,000 Albertans receiving those benefits and working either part-time or full-time, 1,400 will notice the increase to the earnings exemption.
Source:
Calgary Herald

Alberta Works implements debit card program province wide:
Debit cards save government and Albertans with low incomes time and money
February 12, 2007
Edmonton... Starting in summer, 2007, Albertans who receive income support through Alberta Works and who do not have bank accounts will have the option to receive their benefits with a debit card. A successful six-month pilot project showed debit cards to be faster and less expensive to administer than conventional cheques and that Albertans on social assistance overwhelmingly preferred the cards. The program is the first of its kind in Canada.
- includes a backgrounder on the pilot project

More supports help families invest in children's futures - Alberta
News Release
March 15, 2005
Edmonton
"Effective April 1, 2005, changes to Alberta Works will increase the time low-income parents have at home with young children, make it easier for youth to finish high school and help families save for their children's education."
Changes include:
- a parent receiving income support will have one year instead of the current six months to stay home with a child before being required to seek or accept employment
- the requirement to be out of school for one year before receiving training benefits to complete high school is waived.
- a new one-time $100 benefit for Albertans receiving income support to help offset the costs of setting up a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) to participate in Alberta's Centennial Education Savings program (to help cover costs such as the fee for obtaining a birth certificate and the initial deposit required to open an RESP account).
- to better address domestic violence, the existing $1,000 allowance to set up a new household for a person fleeing a violent spouse will now be extended to anyone eligible for income support and who needs help to leave an abusive situation, such as individuals who experience abuse by people other than a spouse.
Source:
Alberta Works
(Human Resources and Employment)

Education investment of $500 for each child born in 2005 or later
News Release
February 17, 2004
"Babies born in Alberta in 2005 or later will benefit from a $500 investment by the Alberta government into individual education savings plans. The Alberta Centennial Education Savings Plan Act, which is the first bill introduced in the spring sitting, sets the stage for a new program that will encourage parents to open a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) for their child with a $500 grant from the government."

Alberta's minimum wage to rise to $7.00 an hour, government confirms
News Release
February 9, 2005
"Edmonton... Alberta's minimum wage will increase to $7.00 per hour from $5.90 per hour. This is an increase of nearly 20 per cent. Employers and other Albertans will be consulted regarding the implementation of the new minimum wage and will have the opportunity to recommend whether the increase should be introduced all at once or in stages. (...) ...other Albertans will be consulted regarding the implementation of the new minimum wage and will have the opportunity to recommend whether the increase should be introduced all at once or in stages."
Affected stakeholders and other interested Albertans can provide feedback, beginning February 24 on the Employment Standards website (the next link below)
Source:
Employment Standards
[ Alberta Human Resources and Employment ]

Alberta Works… for farmers (PDF file - 73K, 1 page)
June 2004
"Alberta Human Resources and Employment office can help farm families through brief periods of financial difficulty and with long-term planning for the future."

More families qualify for free health benefits
Alberta Works News Release
September 9, 2004
"Edmonton... More families are now eligible for premium-free health benefits for their children through the Alberta Child Health Benefit because eligibility levels have been increased. 'This benefit has a positive impact on children's health and parents' workforce participation,'said Clint Dunford, Minister of Alberta Human Resources and Employment. 'More than 70,000 children are receiving health services, and increasing the qualifying levels will help us extend coverage to even more.'"

Alberta Child Health Benefit
"The Alberta Child Health Benefit (ACHB) program is part of Alberta’s role in the National Child Benefit – a series of programs designed to address child poverty across Canada. The ACHB is a premium-free health benefit plan that provides basic dental, optical, emergency ambulance, essential diabetic supplies and prescription drug coverage for children living in families with low incomes."

Supports for Independence is changing : What you need to know about your benefits (PDF file - 100K, 4 pages)
Alberta Works Pamphlet
"New Alberta Works Income Support Program starts with May benefits"
NOTE: on page 4 of this pamphlet, you'll find the following under Asset rule changes:
"The following assets will not affect your benefits:
• Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs) for your children,
• Up to $5,000 per adult in the family in a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), and
• Up to $5,000 equity in vehicles and any amount of equity in a vehicle adapted to accommodate a disability."
[RRSPs and RESPs were formerly subject to lower exemption limits, as they are in many Canadian jurisdictions]
In my view, this is a progressive asset-based welfare policy initiative. Well done!
[ For more info about asset-based social policies in Canada, go to the Canadian Social Research Links Asset-Based Social Policies page ]

New Act strengthens link between income support and training
News Release
December 17, 2003
"Legislation building on Alberta's success at helping people move from income support to the work force will be phased in starting in January 2004. The Income and Employment Supports Act establishes how the government will help families meet their basic needs and help employable people find and keep jobs."
Source:
Alberta Human Resources and Employment

Two new information resources to help low-income Albertans
July 16, 2003
Edmonton... Albertans looking for information on the province's income support programs and the appeals process will now be able to find what they need through a new guide to the Supports for Independence (SFI) [welfare] program and a new Appeals Secretariat Web site.

Your [SFI] Guide (PDF file - 565K, 44 pages)
July 2003
"...will be of use to Albertans with questions on SFI, the provincial program that provides employment supports, financial assistance, and health benefits to people who cannot meet their basic needs. The guide includes information on conducting job searches, how financial benefits are calculated, the amount of assistance available, how earning exemptions are calculated, and the rights and responsibilities of SFI recipients."

Appeals Secretariat website
"An additional source of information on the right to appeal decisions made on income support programs such as SFI or Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) is the new Appeals Secretariat Web site, which outlines how the government's appeal process works from beginning to end."

Bill 32, Income and Employment Supports Act, will help low-income Albertans
March 20, 2003
"Legislation to integrate income and employment training programs, increase accountability for training service providers, and build on Alberta's success in helping people on income support move into the workforce has been introduced in the Alberta legislature. Bill 32, the Income and Employment Supports Act, will establish a new program and benefit structure that will help people meet their basic needs, such as food, clothing and shelter, and provide additional building blocks of support to respond to people's unique circumstances. That might mean academic upgrading, help to get child support, or longer-term financial assistance for people who are unable to work. Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) will continue as a separate program.

Market Basket Measure (PDF file - 142K, 6 pages)
November 2002
"The Market Basket Measure: Calculating the cost of Albertans basic needs"
- incl. links to eight online reports about the Market Basket Measures (at the end of the report)
Source: Alberta Human Resources and Employment
HMMMM - this file was no longer available when I checked July 5/04.
A search of the HRE website turned up only a link to the Market Basket Measure paper produced by the federal government

Working parents leaving SFI keep health benefits
News Release
Oct. 30, 2002
"Effective Nov. 1, parents who find a job and no longer receive financial benefits through the Supports for Independence (SFI) program will be able to keep their health benefits, subject to an annual review based on their net income. To qualify, parents must have dependent children and must be leaving SFI for employment. (...) Offering health benefits to parents who leave SFI for employment is a National Child Benefit (NCB) reinvestment."
Source : Human Resources and Employment

Low-Income Programs Review Website (2001) - Alberta Human Resources and Employment
NOTE:
1. this is the program review that led to the development and implementation of Alberta Works.
2. this site is now dead - the above link is to a copy of the page that was saved in 2005 from the Internet Archive - http://www.archive.org

Low-Income Programs Review Reports (Nov. 2001)
* What We Heard (PDF file - 589K, 108 pages)
* What We Recommend (PDF file - 436K, 30 pages)

Low-Income Review presents a vision for the future
Press Release
May 22, 2002
"Social programs will become fairer and more equitable as the government moves to implement the recommendations of the MLA Committee to Review Low-Income Programs. In a presentation to low-income stakeholders in Calgary, Alberta Human Resources and Employment Minister Clint Dunford released the committee's reports and confirmed that their recommendations will set the future direction for income support programs in Alberta."
- incl. (all in the same file) : Backgrounder - Government Response Checklist - Low-Income Fact Sheet

Employability Council calls for action to improve services and raise awareness
April 10, 2002
"Edmonton...An independent advisory committee report suggests new strategies to improve work opportunities for Albertans with disabilities. Breaking Barriers, enhancing employment opportunities for people with disabilities is the final report to government from the Minister's Employability Council (MEC)."

Breaking Barriers - Enhancing Employment Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities
Final Report of the Minister's Employability Council
April 2002
PDF Format (438K, 32 pages)
Text (RTF) Format
Audio Format (RealAudio)

SFI earnings exemption increase for families
News Release
November 14, 2001
Edmonton - Single parents and families with two working parents on Supports for Independence (SFI) can now earn up to $230/month before their SFI payment is reduced, doubling the previous employment earnings exemption. This is one of four changes to the Social Allowance Regulation designed to further encourage parents receiving SFI benefits to find and keep a job.
- incl. funding under the NCB

Some of Alberta’s low-income programs are being publicly reviewed by a five-member panel of government MLAs.
June 2001
News Release

National Child Benefit - One-page description of the NCB in Alberta - includes a short overview of services available to Albertans under the NCB and links to more information about each of those services...

Alberta Child Health Benefit
"The Alberta Child Health Benefit (ACHB) program is part of Alberta’s role in the National Child Benefit – a series of programs designed to address child poverty across Canada. The ACHB is a premium-free health benefit plan that provides dental, optical, emergency ambulance, essential diabetic supplies and prescription drug coverage for children living in families with low incomes."

Evaluation of the Alberta Child Health Benefit
October 2001
A recent evaluation conducted by Nichols Applied Management (covering the period from January to April 2001) found "the ACHB is having a positive impact on children's health, child poverty, and the workforce participation of low-income parents and that there is a high level of client satisfaction with the program." The evaluation identified the need to increase awareness of the program among low-income Albertans.
Executive Summary (PDF file - 60K, 4 pages)
Final Report (PDF file - 370K, 100 pages)

Alberta families benefit from the National Child Benefit
May 01, 2001
"The news that fewer children are living in poverty and more low-income families are earning money from employment is a very positive sign, says Alberta Human Resources and Employment Minister Clint Dunford..."

Family Maintenance Program
The Family Maintenance program helps single parents and parents of blended families receive financial support from the other parent of their children. It is a mandatory service for all single parents or parents of a blended family who are receiving welfare [Supports for Independence].

Governments of Canada and Alberta sign an Agreement on Early Learning and Child Care
News Release
July 7, 2005
"CALGARY, ALBERTA — Ken Dryden, Minister of Social Development, and Heather Forsyth, Alberta ’s Minister of Children’s Services, announced today an important Agreement in Principle that further supports the development of quality early learning and child care for young children and their families in Alberta."

Early Learning and Child Care Agreements in Principle
- links to the Early Learning and Child Care agreement that each participating jurisdiction has signed with the government of Canada since April 29, 2005 (as at July 8/05):
Alberta - Nova Scotia - Newfoundland and Labrador - Ontario - Saskatchewan - Manitoba

Alberta deal props open the door to big box child care
Federal government & province sign deal that forks over cash to for-profit operators
July 7, 2005
"OTTAWA – The federal and Alberta governments have propped open the door to giant commercial child care chains in the deal they signed today, says D’Arcy Lanovaz, president of the Alberta division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). 'Without public delivery conditions attached to the federal funding, the door is now open in Alberta for giant commercial operators to pad their profits with taxpayer dollars,” says Lanovaz.
[NOTE: scroll to the bottom of the CUPE article for links to five more articles about child care .]
Source:
Canadian Union of Public Employees

America's Promise
"The Five promises:
1. Caring Adults.
2. Safe Places.
3. A Healthy Start.
4.Marketable Skills.
5. Opportunities to Serve."

Uniting for Children Forum
October 2 - 3, 2001
Calgary Roundup Centre
Calgary, Alberta
The second children’s forum, Uniting for Children 2001, will expose delegates to new and innovative approaches to providing services for children, youth and families in Alberta. This is an opportunity to develop a united vision for the future of young people in Alberta.

For related links (incl. the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada) :
- see the Canadian Social Research Links Medicare Debate in Canada Links page

- incl. links to : Protecting Persons in Care - Human Rights, Diversity, and Equality -- Building Strong Communities - Volunteer and Community Development - Youth - Funding and Partnerships - Human Rights Education Funding - Commissions, Boards, Councils and Foundations - and much more...

New disabilities office to provide better coordination, improved access, increased awareness
News Release
February 20, 2004
"Edmonton... The new Office for Disability Issues, announced in this week's throne speech, will allow government to better coordinate policies and programs. As a central place to discuss disability issues, provincial government departments and stakeholders will have the opportunity to collaborate on and strengthen long-term planning to address the needs of Albertans with disabilities."
NOTE: when the new ODI is added to the Alberta Community Development website, it will be under the Helping Albertans link...

The Ministry consists of four functional units: Seniors Services, Housing Services, Strategic Planning and Supportive Living, and Strategic Corporate Services. In addition, the Alberta Social Housing Corporation (ASHC), and the Seniors Advisory Council for Alberta are part of the Ministry.

Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH)
- incl. links to: What is AISH? - Am I eligible to receive AISH? - Who receives AISH? - How can I apply for AISH? - Can I work and receive AISH? - Can I appeal decisions about AISH? - Can I receive Alberta Works Income Support benefits while I'm receiving AISH benefits? Where can I get more information about AISH?

AISH clients can earn more while still receiving financial assistance
Employment income exemption increases, effective July
July 21, 2008
Edmonton... Albertans receiving assistance through the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program can now earn more money and still remain eligible for financial assistance. The employment income exemption increase is retroactive to July 1. (...) On July 1, the upper limit of the employment exemption formula increased by $500 to $1,500 per month for single AISH clients and to $2,500 per month for couples and clients with children. Close to 7,000 AISH clients are currently working.

$1.6 billion in benefits provided to Alberta seniors
Information Bulletin
May 6, 2004
- incl. a list and brief description of Government of Alberta benefits to help seniors maintain their well-being and independence; these benefits total approximately $1.6 billion annually
- incl. Alberta Seniors Benefit - Health Care Insurance Premium Exemptions - Special Needs Assistance for Seniors program - Dental and Optical Benefits - Alberta Blue Cross Coverage for Seniors - Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL)

Women Together Ending poverty (WTEP)
We are a Calgary-based diverse group of women working together to educate ourselves and other women about the root causes of poverty and to empower ourselves and other women to take action against poverty.
- incl. links to:
* Welcome * Our Principles * Our Platform * Our Regular Activities * Our Current Focus * Past Events * Future Events * Videos * Poverty Talks * Our Contact Info * Links

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Vibrant Communities
Vibrant Communities is a community-driven effort to reduce poverty in Canada by creating partnerships that make use of our most valuable assets – people, organizations, businesses and governments. It’s a unique approach to poverty reduction that allows communities to learn from — and help — each other. Vibrant Communities links communities across Canada, from British Columbia to Newfoundland, in a collective effort to test the most effective ways to reduce poverty at the grassroots level.
[ Learn more about Vibrant Communities ]
[ Tamarack Institute for Community Engagement:
Tamarack exists to build vibrant and engaged communities in Canada. Our work will result in more collaborative approaches and less poverty. ]

Poverty Reduction Coalition
In 2004, United Way of Calgary and Area formed the Sustained Poverty Reduction Initiative to leverage people, resources and influence to reduce the causes and effects of poverty. The initiative was later renamed Poverty Reduction Coalition [ 2007 Backgrounder (PDF - 52K, 2 pages), and it is a community collaborative supported by United Way of Calgary and Area.
NOTE: this site hasn't been updated since late 2008, but it contains some interesting Calgary-focused reports going back a few years that are worth checking out...

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Poverty Reduction Coalition
- a volunteer-driven community collaborative, dedicated to reducing the incidence of poverty in Calgary, one of the city’s most complex and far-reaching issues.

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Alberta ready to defy boom bust cycles of the past: TD Economics (PDF file - 100K, 4 pages)
Press Release
September 27, 2007
CALGARY - Are Alberta’s boom-times setting the economy up for a classic bust? TD Economics says no in a report released today at the Calgary Economic Development’s Economic Outlook luncheon. There are a number of “flashing warning signs” such as the decline in natural gas prices and drilling output levels, as well as slower growth in home and consumer goods sales, but TD economists Don Drummond and Derek Burleton consider the “odds of a hard landing to be one in four.”
Source:
TD Economics

Welfare clawback policies stymie labour recruitment, TD report says
September 28, 2007
EDMONTON - Alberta's economic growth could be hurt by excessive clawbacks of benefits received by low-income earners, suggests a report released, Thursday, by TD Bank. The Alberta government has suggested recruiting marginalized workers to offset a widespread labour shortage. But welfare recipients face a major disincentive in taking work because of "the extremely high personal marginal income tax rates as social assistance benefits are taxed back," the TD report stated.
Source:
The Edmonton Journal

The Family Benefit Packages in Alberta and BC Do Not Measure Up (PDF file - 60K, 2 pages)
News Release
March 7, 2007
Author Paul Kershaw (University of British Columbia) examines overall family benefits packages in Alberta and BC for different types of families and then compares them with those of other industrialized countries. His findings show that Alberta and BC rank low by international standards in terms of their combined investment in family benefits. The study serves as a reminder that promoting gender equity, raising healthy children and supporting parents in the quest to balance work and family requires more than rhetoric, it requires real investment.

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Parkland Op-Ed:
Manningcare failed before, it will fail again.
Private health insurance too costly.
by Diana Gibson
November 6, 2006
Preston Manning identifies real problems with Canada's health-care system, but his prescriptions do not hit the mark. Most notably, he, like his father Ernest Manning, favours private health insurance. Ernest Manning already tried private health insurance when he was the premier and it was a dismal failure.

Source:
Parkland Institute
The Parkland Institute is an Alberta research network situated within the Faculty of Arts at the University of Alberta. It operates within the established and distinctive tradition of Canadian political economy and is non-partisan.

The above column was written in response to the following article
written last week by Preston Manning and Mark Milke:

Will our next premier lead the health-care revolution?
Preston Manning and Mark Milke, Freelance
October 30, 2006
If contenders for Alberta's Progressive Conservative leadership wish to lead the necessary health-care revolution in Canada, they and every Albertan will gain much by considering what an excellent health-care system should look like.
Source:
Edmonton Journal

The Spoils of the Boom: Incomes, profits and poverty in Alberta
by Diana Gibson
June 13, 2007

Media Release
June 13, 2007
New Report Says Most Albertans Not Seeing the Benefits of the Boom
EDMONTON – Middle class Albertans are no better off as a result of the current boom, and Alberta’s poor are actually worse off than before says a new report from the Parkland Institute at the University of Alberta.

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City hall could shelter homeless at night: mayor [Calgary]
November 1, 2006
Calgary's mayor says city hall could be used as temporary lodging for homeless people left in the cold, snowy streets at night because overwhelmed shelters are full.
Source:
CBC News Calgary

Edmonton print shop to house city's homeless
October 31, 2006
A former City of Edmonton print shop will become an emergency shelter this winter as part of the city's plan for dealing with a growing homelessness population. City council approved the $1.4 million plan Tuesday afternoon, saying emergency shelters are expecting a 50 per cent increase in people seeking help this winter.
Source:
CBC News Edmonton

Service Canada Regional Information:
Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut
This page provides information on region-specific services for Individuals, Business and Organizations.
Services include: Jobs * Financial Benefits * Employment Insurance * Taxes * Training and Careers * Identification Cards * Travel and Passports * Health * Consumer Information * Canada and the World * Environment and Resources * Economy * Public Safety * Culture and Recreation * Science and Technology.
Source:
Service Canada
Human Resources and Social Development Canada

Alberta Food Bank Network Association
- incl. links to : Home - Mission - Projects - People - Members - Newsletter - Bulletin - Resources - Contact
Resources - several dozen links and to organizations and online resources

EmployAbilities
"EmployAbilities is a charitable non-profit organization, located in Edmonton, Alberta dedicated to promoting and enhancing employment and learning opportunities for persons with disabilities. We have served the Edmonton community for over 25 years and will continue to offer superior services through Community Partnerships and a committed staff."
- incl. links to : Agency Profile - Assistive Technology - Community Partnerships - Job Postings - Fundraising - New Initiatives - Partners Call Centre - Resources - Success Stories - Training Programs - WORKink Alberta

WORKink Alberta - "The Virtual Employment Resource Centre"
Career and Employment Resources for Persons with Disabilities
- Links to a wide range of information for people with disabilities and those who support them.
Source:
Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work

Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission
The Commission, an agency of the Government of Alberta in Canada, serves Albertans by offering human rights education services and by helping Albertans resolve human rights complaints. The Commission’s goals are to foster equality and reduce discrimination.
Large site - use the site map to find your way around...

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Albertans Against Poverty Organization (homelessness / minimum wage)
[ version française ]
"The Albertans Against Poverty Organization is a democratic organization of poor and working people dedicated to the eradication poverty and homelessness in Alberta & across Canada through consultation, advocacy, lobbying and direct action and by working in solidarity with like-minded individuals and organizations to challenge oppression in our society."
- see AAPO's campaigns to raise the minimum wage in Alberta and to eradicate homelessness in Canada; also includes a collection of links to national social policy organizations and union and links to social services in Edmonton
Daniel Dufresne - founder of AAPO

More of the Same?
The Position of the Four Largest Canadian Provinces in the World of Welfare Regimes
November 5, 2004
by Paul Bernard, Sébastien Saint-Arnaud
"In More of the Same? The Position of the Four Largest Canadian Provinces in the World of Welfare Regimes, Paul Bernard and Sébastien Saint-Arnaud locate the welfare regimes of Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia among those of a group of advanced countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development [OECD]. They compare them in terms of a wide set of indicators representing public policy, social situations and level of public participation."

NOTE: This article is based partly on Gøsta Esping-Andersen's 1990 typology of welfare regimes in advanced capitalist societies and more recent related work. It's not a detailed comparison of welfare programs in certain Canadian jurisdictions, but rather an academic analysis of how the welfare systems in four Canadian provinces fit within the international typology. It should be emphasized that the analysis of welfare regimes in the four Canadian jurisdictions focuses on the mid-1990s, which was a tumultuous period in the evolution of the Canadian welfare system. Programs (and governments, except for Emperor Klein...) have changed since then, but ten years later, it's still true that "Alberta somewhat resembles the 'ultra-liberal' United States, while Quebec leans in the direction of Europe, and to some extent, of social-democracy." [Excerpt from the Abstract].

Canada West Foundation (CWF)
Since 1971, the Canada West Foundation has provided citizens and policymakers with non-partisan, non-ideological research on a wide range of issues of critical importance to western Canadians. (...) In 2000, Canada West will be pursuing a variety of research programs, including non-profit sector studies, urban policy, health care reform, gambling policy, taxation, and economic development.

Check the Publications page for links to full copies (in PDF format) of over 50 reports dating back to early 1997.

Leading the Way: The BC/Alberta economy
December 2006
In 2004 and 2005, BC and Alberta were the top two provinces in terms of economic growth. This strong performance has been due in large part to conditions in natural resource markets, notably high commodity prices and strong foreign demand. A by-product of this prosperity is a level of employment not witnessed in many years. Sustained job growth and ample economic opportunities have enticed people to move to BC and Alberta from other parts of the country, as evidenced by recent trends in interprovincial migration.

Canada West Foundation survey respondents rate homelessness as high priority
News Release
May 25, 2007
CALGARY -- The Canada West Foundation today released a public opinion survey which shows that the majority of urbanites in western Canada and Toronto rate reducing homelessness as a high priority. The most popular ways to address homelessness, according to the survey's respondents, are increased affordable housing and increased programs and services for homeless people rather than more shelter beds.

Looking West - links to all five segments of Looking West 2007 and to earlier editions (back to 2001)

Other CWF reports deal with issues such as tax reform and economic growth in Alberta, reform of the Canadian Senate, relations between government and non-profit organizations, immigration policy in Canada and elsewhere in the world, health promotion, gambling, the urban landscape, the Canadian social policy landscape, alternative service delivery, the safety net and seniors, and much, much more.

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A Profile of Poverty in Mid-Sized Alberta Cities
January 2000
Canadian Council on Social Development

Another Look at Welfare Reform (Autumn 1997)
- an in-depth analysis by the National Council of Welfare of changes in Canadian welfare programs in the 1990s.
The report focuses on the provincial and territorial reforms that preceded the repeal of the Canada Assistance Plan and those that followed the implementation of the Canada Health and Social Transfer.
Complete report online - large file (300K+) but well worth the wait for detailed information on welfare reforms in the 1990s in each Canadian jurisdiction, as well as a national overview of the broad issues of welfare reform and the setting for welfare reform in Canada
Source : National Council of Welfare

The Parkland Institute - [ University of Alberta ]
The Parkland Institute is a broad-based, provincial research organization, drawing support and representation from throughout the province and from various segments of Alberta society, including academics, private businesses, unions, professional, community and religious organizations. The Parkland Institute is situated within the Faculty of Arts at the University of Alberta.

Some much better ways to use Klein's $1.4B giveaway
We could banish poverty, and give children top quality daycare. Now that's a legacy
October 10, 2005
by Gordon Laxer
"Giving out $400 prosperity cheques to each resident is a foolish squandering of Alberta's heritage.(...) The proponents of the so called "Alberta Advantage" argue that to attract investment and make Alberta more competitive, we need low taxes, oil royalty holidays, a low minimum wage, low public expenditures and low welfare payments. They assume a trade-off between economic efficiency and generous, universal public services. If you have extensive public services and anti-poverty policies, you can't have a vigorous economy, they say. But are they right?" (...)

New Parkland Institute Report Highlights Strengths of Public Health Care
More Private Financing Will Increase Costs and Hurt Accessibility
Press Release - November 2, 2004
Executive Summary (PDF file - 29K, 5 pages)

Pembina Institute
The Pembina Institute is an independent, not-for-profit environmental policy research and education organization. Founded in Drayton Valley, Alberta, the Pembina Institute has a multidisciplinary staff of more than thirty, with offices in Drayton Valley, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Ottawa. The Pembina Institute’s major policy research and education programs are in the areas of sustainable energy, climate change, environmental governance, ecological fiscal reform, sustainability indicators, and the environmental impacts of the energy industry.

Wild Rose Foundation - The Wild Rose Foundation is a lottery funded agency created by the Government of Alberta in November of 1984. The Foundation is governed by a seven-person Board of Directors. The Honourable Stan Woloshyn, Minister of Community Development in Alberta is also the Minister responsible for the Wild Rose Foundation.
The Foundation's activities:
1.Provide funding to volunteer, non-profit organizations that provide valuable services to Albertans;
2.Foster or promote the use of volunteers, or to assist those who volunteer or use the services of volunteers in Alberta; and
3.Foster or promote charitable, philanthropic, humanitarian, or public spirited acts or to assist those who perform them.

Welfare reform in Alberta (1997)

Back to Work:
Learning from the Alberta Welfare Experiment
April 9, 1997
By Kenneth J. Boessenkool
Now here's a moldie goldie oldie - I lost track of this report some time ago and just recently stumbled across it again.
I'm flagging this as an important report, not because I think the author "got it right" in his assessment of the relative success of Alberta's welfare reforms starting in 1993, but rather because I consider it a kind of manifesto of social conservatives with respect to welfare and welfare reform in Canada. Author Ken Boessenkool hails "the change [in 1993] in the administrative culture of Alberta Family and Social Services, as a result of which welfare applicants are now routinely turned away unless they have exhausted all other sources of support. In the second stage [of Alberta welfare reforms], the province brought benefit levels in line with wages earned by Albertans with low incomes. Together, these reforms appear to have contributed to a nearly 50 percent decline in the number of Albertans on welfare, Boessenkool says." [bolding added]

On page 6 of his report, the author states, "Alberta did not cut its benefits [in IOctober of 1993] uniformly for all recipients. Rather, it focused its most severe reductions on single, employable individuals. They faced a 19 percent decline in benefits, which brought the amount just below the minimum wage."

Wow.

The welfare income of a single person with no disability in 1993 was "just below minimum wage" AFTER a 19% decrease in that person's maximum benefit level??

No way. Not true.

I did interprovincial welfare rate comparisons for over 25 years as part of my job with the federal government. Never in that period - not once - did a single employable person on welfare receive even close to the prevailing minimum wage, in Alberta or in any other Canadian province. According to the National Council of Welfare's Welfare Incomes report, a single person on welfare in Alberta received about $5,600 for all of 1993. The provincial minimum wage for that year was $5.00 (or about $9,700 for the 52 weeks).

Alberta welfare reforms
a model for other provinces, says C.D. Howe Institute study (PDF file - 668K, 38 pages)
April 1997
[NOTE: this PDF file includes a communiqué in English and one in French as well as the 29-page report itself]
By Kenneth J. Boessenkool
"The welfare reform program that Alberta embarked on in 1993 has reduced the province’s welfare caseload, as a percentage of its population, to levels not seen since before the early 1980s’ recession, a success that has important lessons for other provinces, concludes a C.D. Howe Institute Commentary released today. The study, Back to Work: Learning from the Alberta Welfare Experiment, was written by Kenneth J. Boessenkool, a Policy Analyst at the C.D. Howe Institute." [Excerpt from the Communiqué]

Source:
C.D Howe Institute