First affordability payments delivered, long-term solutions needed: recipients
The first instalment of the province’s affordability payments has been deposited into the bank accounts of Albertans already receiving income supports.
Albertans under the Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD), Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) and Seniors Benefit programs are among the first to have received the payments, and were not required to apply.
"Over 900,000 children, seniors and vulnerable Albertans are enrolled and scheduled to receive payments starting today and continuing over the coming days," said Andrea Farmer, press secretary to the minister of affordability and utilities, via email on Tuesday afternoon.
"Of this number, over 875,000 will receive payments today via direct deposit or cheques. This includes over 400,000 children and 175,000 seniors, and an additional 300,000 Albertans on core support programs who were automatically enrolled."
For some of these Albertans, "it's nice, but it's not enough."
"A bunch of us feel like we're not heard or understood or cared for," said Angie Brown, a High River resident who receives both PDD and AISH.
She says it’s been challenging to get groceries for the meals that aren't provided in her accommodations.
"It's hard to get fresh food because sometimes I may want a salad for lunch or a smoothie. But everything is like, really expensive right now," said Brown.
She relies on a mobility scooter in the warmer months, or taxis at other times, and adds that transportation is an added challenge for a person of her circumstance living outside an urban centre.
PLAN NEEDED
Colleen Huston with the Disability Action Hall says the payments are a step to helping vulnerable Albertans, but wants to see the province come up with longer-term solutions to address poverty.
"We need a poverty reduction plan. We need to look at all the costs of basic needs," said Huston.
She says the province's Affordability Action Plan is missing out on helping Albertans who don't qualify for these programs, for those experiencing homelessness.
CRITERIA CONCERNS
The eligibility criteria for those who do not automatically qualify for the payments include:
- Seniors 65+ with a household income under $180,000; and
- Families with children under 18 with a household income under $180,000.
Other advocates say they are concerned about those who do not meet this criteria.
"There are some people here who have really fallen through the cracks who we know are in poverty from an evidence perspective. (For post-secondary) students, the poverty rate among young adults between 18 and 24 is the highest among all age groups," said Meaghon Reid, executive director with Vibrant Communities Calgary.
Farmer's statement said the needs of post-secondary students are not lost on the provincial government.
"We have and we will continue to listen to the concerns of students and our government is focused on keeping Alberta affordable," Farmer said.
"We have already taken some important steps to help ease the inflationary pressures our post-secondary students are facing which incudes a new investment of $15 million to create a new bursary for low-income students and an additional investment of $12 million to support more scholarships and bursaries. We are also exploring if there are other measures that can be implemented to help our students."
The program allows in-person applications at Alberta Registries or Alberta Supports Centres, but otherwise the online application process launched on Jan. 18 for those with a valid My Alberta ID.
Reid says she's concerned for those who face barriers in applying in-person or online.
"That might be people without computers, or reliable internet access, or that digital literacy to be able to log on and to complete that account. And so while we are glad for the people who are receiving it, we have a big question mark about who's not receiving it," she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
U.S. vetoes a widely supported UN resolution backing full membership for Palestine
The United States has vetoed a widely backed UN resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.
Bayer recalls hydraSense baby product over 'potential contamination'
Bayer announced Thursday it is recalling two lots of its hydraSense Baby Nasal Care Easydose due to a potential contamination.
N.L. gardening store revives 19th century seed-packing machine
Technology from the 19th century has been brought out of retirement at a Newfoundland gardening store, as staff look for all the help they can get to fill orders during a busy season.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.