Getting Ready for Election 2023
As we approach the upcoming election on May 29th 2023, our Skills Society community is concerned about whether people with developmental disabilities and disability support services around them will be forgotten once again. Below, our long established Skills Society advocacy committee of volunteer board members and senior leaders have compiled information to help you make well informed decisions for this election year.
Why this election matters
The next four years are critical. Who we vote for in this election will determine how well our sector’s needs are understood and met. It is imperative that all political parties and candidates understand that our workforce crisis and the challenges faced by our underfunded organisations have a serious impact on the quality of supports for Albertans with disabilities who depend on us every day.
There are significant opportunities right now. The provincial government is well-positioned to work with us to develop solutions for our common goals. Alberta’s economic outlook is strong: the government has forecasted surplus budget for the next three years, and the provincial population is expected to surge, which will significantly ease labour market pressures experienced during the pandemic. The Community Disability Sector (CDS) and the government can jointly leverage these opportunities to address the urgent challenges faced by the sector.
Government is an essential partner. Supporting individuals with developmental disabilities to live full lives in the community is a legislated responsibility of the provincial government. Full collaboration of the government is essential for continuing cost effective, essential services for the most vulnerable Albertans.
We are part of a sector with urgent needs. Low wages, demanding work, chronic underfunding, and increasingly complex needs in individuals requiring supports have contributed to eroding the capacity of organizations to provide sustainable, quality services. After COVID-19, the workforce is exhausted, turnover is at a 12-year high of 30%, inflation costs are high, and close to 2,000 individuals were still waiting for services (600) or in service planning stage (1,400) as of December 2021, according to the most recent data available via the Alberta Government open data portal. This is unacceptable for a sector that delivers essential supports to vulnerable Albertans.
What we think all candidates need to be aware of and support
Ensuring proper funding to sustain essential, safe and dignified services. The reports and data are clear. No significant increase from the government since 2014 has seriously negatively affected services and indirectly caused cost increases in other ministries including Health and Justice. Learn about the wage issue and effects on staff and people we support at Skills Society here. The recent 2023 increase from the Government is very welcome, but only a start and does not address the true costs associated with inflation and increasing service demands.
Long term staff education and training is deeply needed - We especially see the need for a long term plan for education in the sector, because if staff are not well trained this has a direct impact on the quality and safety of the services delivered. To ensure dignity of support we all need to ensure proper education in disability services.
Increase capacity to reduce waitlists and ensure people who need PDD and FSCD support can get it. We ask for a commitment to fund the full and true costs of service delivery, including proper funding for administrative and indirect costs. We ask for a commitment to increase the capacity of service providers to help reduce the long waitlist of people waiting to receive PDD-funded supports.
Implement the recommendations from Inclusion Alberta - We ask that the government support and implement recommendations from Inclusion Alberta to support youth inclusion in schools, adults with disabilities and their families and indigenous Albertans on reserve with developmental disabilities who need PDD supports - Learn More About Inclusion Alberta’s Recommendations Here
Implement the evidence based recommendations from the KPMG, ACDS Project Blueprint report. We call for the government to fund and implement the report as they confirm long standing issues our community has raised concerns about for decades.
-
Explore the links below for more information on pressing issues facing people with intellectual disabilities, their families, and allies, and the broader disability service sector.
Alberta Council of Disability Services (ACDS) website has a Summary Document of their Election Priorities as well as summary pages for each priority:
ACDS Survey of Political Parties
ACDS Party Platforms and the CDS Sector
Inclusion Alberta website has a Summary Document of their Election Priorities:
PDD and FSCD: Access and Funding
Inclusive Education: Ensuring Access and Funding
Indigenous Children and Adults with Disabilities: Access to Culturally Relevant Supports and Resources
Expanding INclusive Housing and Ending Institutionalisation
Improving Income Security and Increasing Employment Opportunities
Inclusion Alberta is hosting a Virtual Candidate’s Forum for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families and support. You can register for this event here. Details below.
Inclusion Alberta’s Provincial Election Virtual Candidate’s Forum
May 9th, 7pm-9pm
Online
Register here.
Disability Action Hall has created this Summary titled “5 Things to Get Election Ready”.
Disability Action Hall has also created this “Alberta Party Election Platforms At a Glance” that provides a plain language summary of election platforms from a poverty lens.
-
All Albertans, who are 18 years or older, Canadian Citizens, and residents of Alberta are eligible to vote. Albertans with developmental or intellectual disabilities and a legal guardian have the right to cast their own vote.
Step by Step Instructions on How to Vote & 2 Minute Instructional Video
Inclusion Alberta has put together accessible information about how to vote in the “How to Vote” section of this webpage. You can also view information on voting at Elections Alberta.
Webinar on Voting with Alberta Elections for Adults with Disabilities
Inclusion Alberta is hosting a webinar with Alberta Elections for Adults with Disabilities that will explain the voting process and supports available. Details below.
You can Vote! Webinar with Alberta Elections
May 4th, 7:30pm-8:45pm
Online
Join the webinar here.
-
Below are links to Alberta political party websites:
-
A key way for you to be involved in the upcoming election is to request a meeting with and/or send letters to your MLA and other candidates to make them aware of issues that are important to you.
Step by Step Guide to Arranging and Preparing for a Meeting with a Candidate
Inclusion Alberta has created an accessible, step by step guide on how to arrange and prepare for a meeting with your candidate that can be viewed in the “How and Where to Meet Candidates” and “Plan for a Meeting with your Candidate” sections of this webpage.
Letter Templates You Can Adjust and Send to Candidates
We have drafted the following templates you can adjust and use to write to Candidates. Within the templates you will find instructions as sections highlighted in yellow you will need to edit to make it your own.
