December 1, 2005
The Honourable Mike Cardinal
Minister for Employment and Human Resources
#324, Legislature Building
10800-97th Avenue
Edmonton AB T5K 2B6
Dear Mr. Cardinal,
Four years have now passed since the 2001 publication of the MLA Committee Report on its review of low-income programs in Alberta.
One of the key findings of that report was that current benefit levels do not meet the needs of many Albertans who rely on income support. At that time many Albertans, social agencies and organizations, urged the provincial government to increase benefit levels, and to index support programs. While your department can be commended for acting to increase support levels for the AISH program, your ongoing failure to increase Income Support levels is very troubling. In Alberta, supports received by a single employable person are among the lowest in the country. Those for a single parent with one child are the lowest in the country.
It is shameful that in a province so prosperous, poor families are required to survive on income support levels that are far below even the extremely conservative Market Basket Measure. Income support levels must be increased to levels which will actually allow recipients to meet their basic needs and participate in their communities.
Yours truly,
