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With a $3.9B surplus in Alberta, should that money be used to make life more affordable?

VCC says the surplus is an opportunity to re-index income support and AISH to keep up with inflation

29 June 2022

The Alberta government has reported a budget surplus of $3.9 billion from record high oil and gas revenues. When asked how the government should spend the surplus, VCC's Meaghon Reid said now is the time to re-index income support and Assured income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH).

“If we right-side and index those income supports to inflation, what we will see is that we won’t have to spend more money on interventions like shelters, emergency health-care, emergency food provision down the road because we’re adequately investing in Albertans and making sure they’re staying afloat. It’s really shocking that we’re not directing those funds to help people who are in the most vulnerable positions in Alberta, particularly people in poverty, to help them get afloat and stay afloat in this time of economic crisis,” said Meaghon Reid, executive director of Vibrant Communities Calgary.

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Piggy bank

Getting it right

Provincial supports such as AISH and Alberta Works should be enough to cover basic needs. They should be indexed annually to reflect the rising cost of living and exemption rates increased to reduce barriers to work.

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