Listen Live
Listen Live

Lethbridge MLA calls on UCP to reverse cuts to AISH

Two NDP MLAs are calling on a United Conservative Party leadership candidate to keep his word and reverse cuts to the assured income for the severely handicapped (AISH).

Travis Toews made a stop in Lethbridge on his leadership campaign trail last week, where he told reporters he would commit to re-indexing AISH to keep up with inflation pressures. 

“I will certainly commit to re-indexing our personal tax system in the future and I will commit to re-indexing those programs that were paused for a period of time,” he said.

Shannon Phillips, Lethbridge West MLA, held a news conference on June 21 to call on him to take action now. 

“Leadership candidate Travis Toews literally picked the pockets of Albertans who have the least in our society. At the same time, literally that very same day legislative session, he turned around and gave billions in giveaways to already profitable corporations turning massive profits,” she said. “That is grossly unfair. It has caused a lot of real harm in peoples’ lives.”

She says with the more than 20 MLAs Toews claims to have backing up, combined with the official opposition, they would have enough legislative members to make immediate change. She and Marie Renault, NDP Critic for community and social services, wrote to Toews to ask him to join them to immediately call for the legislative assembly to be recalled for the purposes of re-indexing personal income tax and disability supports. 

“He has already committed to doing it, obviously Albertans can’t take anything that the UCP says at their word, but let’s give Mr. Toews and the rest of them a chance to prove they are sincere,” Phillips said. “We can do this in a day.” 

Renault said the UCP decision to make cuts to funding for people living with disability in Alberta was devastating. “It means some of Alberta’s most vulnerable can’t afford to buy food and certainly can’t afford their rent.”

Phillips said Albertans have been waiting too long to get the support they need and she hopes Toews will support them calling the session no later than next week.

- Advertisement -

cjoc Now playing play

ckbd Now playing play

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

Police seeking two men in connection with sexual assault investigation

Police in Lethbridge are asking for help with an ongoing sexual assault investigation. 

Walking tours offer visitors and locals alike a glimpse at Lethbridge’s gritty true crime history

Designed for tourists and locals alike, the Lethbridge Historical Society and local historian Belinda Crowson have unveiled the brand-new tour program, Hidden History of Lethbridge Walking Tours. 

Hundreds line downtown streets for Lethbridge Pride Parade

The Lethbridge Pride Parade brought hundreds of people downtown on Saturday, June 28.

Registration open for Miners Day parade

Registration is open for the 2025 Miners Day Parade in Coalhurst. 

‘Shakespeare in the Park’ returns this summer with ‘Love’s Labour’s Lost’

This Thursday is Opening Night for the Lethbridge Shakespeare Performance Society's season of Love's Labour's Lost at 7 p.m. in Galt Gardens, with Shakespeare in the Park. 
- Advertisement -