Introduction
March of Dimes Canada (MODC) submitted this Pre-Budget Submission in December 2025 to the Government of Alberta for fiscal year 2026–27, advocating for strategic investments that advance equity, inclusion, and quality of life for Albertans with disabilities and seniors. MODC's recommendations are informed by extensive engagement with service users, caregivers, and stakeholders, and align with provincial priorities for health, social services, and economic participation.
Key Recommendations
Expand Supportive Living for Brain Injury and Stroke Survivors: Increase funding for supportive housing and MODC's
After Stroke program to address the growing need among Albertans with traumatic and non-traumatic brain injuries. These investments will reduce homelessness, alleviate pressure on acute care, and improve long-term outcomes.
Protect Disability Income Supports: Remove benefit reductions from programs such as AISH to ensure the new Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) supplements—not offsets—existing supports. This will help lift Albertans with disabilities out of deep poverty and promote financial security.
Enable Aging in Place: Invest in comprehensive community-based supports, home accessibility programs, and personal care and homemaking services to allow seniors to live safely and independently. These measures will improve quality of life, reduce long-term care demand, and generate healthcare cost savings.
Mitigate Risks and Enhance Employment Supports under ADAP: Fund services, education, and employer incentives to ensure the new Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) creates meaningful employment pathways without compromising income stability. Implement ongoing evaluation and inclusive practices to support diverse populations.
Why These Investments Matter
Alberta faces rising rates of disability and an aging population, with seniors projected to comprise 20 per cent of residents by 2051. Strategic action now will prevent systemic strain, foster independence, and create equitable opportunities for all Albertans. MODC brings decades of expertise in supportive housing, home accessibility, and employment services, positioning us as a trusted partner in delivering these outcomes.
Recommendation 1: Increase access to supportive living options for Albertans with brain injuries, including stroke survivors, by investing in supportive housing and March of Dimes Canada's After Stroke program.
Both traumatic and non-traumatic brain injuries are prevalent issues in Alberta, with approximately 5,000 people suffering head injuries each year. Non-traumatic brain injuries include conditions such as aneurysms, brain tumors, and strokes, while traumatic brain injuries often result from falls, motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, and intimate partner violence. With an aging population at increased risk of falls and complex medical conditions, the need for supportive housing options will only grow. Without these options, homelessness rates will rise, further straining existing support systems.
Supportive housing involves collaboration between low-income housing providers and service organizations like MODC to offer individualized support, including medication administration, self-care assistance, and access to community services. Approximately 50 per cent of people experiencing homelessness have some form of brain injury, highlighting the critical need for specialized services to help these people transition from health and shelter systems to permanent housing. This transition reduces red tape, and the likelihood of people returning to homelessness and alleviates pressure on emergency services.
In addition to brain injuries, stroke is a leading cause of adult disability in Canada, with over 9,000 people in Alberta experiencing a stroke each year, and 97,000 living with the effects of stroke1. Advances in medical care have increased stroke survival rates, but many survivors face significant disabilities. March of Dimes Canada's After Stroke program provides essential support for stroke survivors, helping them transition from hospital to home and community. This program offers personalized planning, emotional support, education, and peer support, tailored to the unique needs of stroke survivors.
Furthermore, people with brain injuries often face limited access to Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) funding due to restrictive eligibility criteria. This lack of access to necessary financial support exacerbates the challenges faced by those with brain injuries, making it even more critical to provide comprehensive supportive housing and services.
To address these issues, we recommend increasing funding for supportive housing and services for people with brain injuries including investing in After Stroke. This dual approach will ensure that Albertans with brain injuries, including stroke survivors, receive the comprehensive support they need to lead fulfilling lives and reduce the burden on existing healthcare and support systems. This approach aligns with Assisted Living Alberta's goals to provide Albertans with a comprehensive, holistic system of care with a full range of wrap-around services, and to support individuals and families to have more options when they need care and as their needs evolve. A Canadian study on acquired brain injury (ABI) found that acute care accounts for 46–65 per cent of total treatment costs in the first year post-injury, with average first-year costs of $32,132 per traumatic brain injury (TBI) patient and $38,018 per non-traumatic ABI patient. Transitioning patients to community-based care earlier can significantly reduce these acute care expenditures2.
MODC has a proven track record in providing, coordinated, consistent supportive housing services for people with brain injury, including purpose built supportive housing that meets the needs of rural and smaller community populations. We support those who have a brain injury with supports in their home or community to maximize level of independence through rehabilitation and quality of life supports. We provide these through a range of models: supportive housing, congregate care, outreach, and groups. In Alberta, we currently provide Nunavut government-funded supportive housing services in the Edmonton area and in Red Deer, employing a team of almost 200 Albertans. We look forward to working with Assisted Living Alberta to explore ways we can extend these services to Albertans.
We urge the Honourable Nate Horner, Honourable Adriana LaGrange, and Honourable Minister Jason Nixon to collaborate on determining the appropriate increase in funding for these critical services and implement these changes in the upcoming budget.
Recommendation 2: Remove benefit reductions from disability income support programs to help lift low-income Albertans with disabilities out of poverty.
As a service provider, MODC plays a key role in supporting people with disabilities in accessing the full scope of financial security benefits available to them, such as Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH), the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) and the Seniors Home Safety Tax Credit, as well as employment services and supports for employers to hire people with disabilities. We are committed to focusing on financial security and will continue working with our service users, their families and caregivers, and with community stakeholders to build this foundation of dignity and independence for all people with disabilities in Alberta.
People with disabilities in Canada are three times as likely to live in poverty than those without3. Current AISH rates do not enable recipients to move beyond deep poverty, especially as the affordability crisis persists. Prior to the implementation of the new Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), Alberta led in providing higher disability income support rates. However, the province's decision to reduce AISH payments in response to the CDB means that Alberta no longer leads in this regard, and adds red tape AISH recipients must navigate. In Budget 2025, the federal government has reiterated its commitment to enact legislation that exempts the CDB from being treated as employment income under the Income Tax Act.
To ensure Albertans with disabilities can thrive rather than simply survive, the federal government's CDB must supplement existing Alberta benefits, bringing AISH recipients' income above the poverty line.
To that end, MODC recommends:
- that the Honourable Jason Nixon and the Honorable Nate Horner place the CDB in Alberta's policy directive on exempt income sources related to eligibility for disability income support.
Recommendation 3: Invest in comprehensive supports and services to enable aging in place for Albertans.
Aging in community, or aging in place, means having the health and social supports and services needed to live safely and independently in one's home or community for as long as desired and feasible. It is essential for people of all ages to ensure these supports are available when and where they are needed. By making proactive choices, Albertans can maintain greater control over their independence, quality of life, and dignity.
We welcomed the government's announcement in Budget 2025 of $3.8 billion for Assisted Living Alberta, the new provincial continuing care health agency. We support the goals of this new agency to provide wraparound medical and non-medical supports, home care, community care and social services to Albertans.
The Government of Alberta has already demonstrated a commitment and understanding of the importance of supporting seniors to age in place4. Enabling aging in place involves collaboration among health and social service organizations across the healthcare continuum. Implementing these strategies can prevent or delay entry into long-term care, improve safety, health, and quality of life outcomes, reduce emergency department visits, lessen demands on caregivers, and optimize the use of health and social care resources.
Between 2013 and 2023, the proportion of seniors (those aged 65 and older) in Alberta increased from 12 to 16 per cent of the total population. By 2051, 1 in 5 Albertans will be a senior. Furthermore, from 2017 to 2022, the disability rate in Alberta increased by 5.8 per cent, resulting in a prevalence rate of 27.5 per cent5. This increase is attributed to the aging population and the higher disability rates associated with older age groups. With this significant demographic shift, it is essential to develop supports and resources that allow Albertans to age safely in an appropriate environment of their choice.
Seniors with age related disabilities are a diverse group with a wide range of financial situations in urban and rural settings. Their homes often need to be better designed or renovated to meet their mobility needs. Some situations require adding grab bars to a space; others might involve extensive structural alterations, like replacing a stairway with a stair lift. People may require personal care services to stay in their homes. There is not a one-size-fits-all accessibility solution. Each person's needs are unique.
There are significant physical, mental, emotional, and economic benefits to helping seniors live at home for as long as possible. Seniors living independently are often more physically and mentally active, which helps keep them alert and mobile. Engaged seniors are generally happier, as living on their own or with family provides more opportunities to stay connected to their community and contribute to family life, fostering a sense of personal satisfaction.
Realizing the benefits of aging in place requires preparation and planning at three levels:
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Individual: Self-care is fundamental to aging in place, including physical health, hygiene, diet, and medication management. Assessing, supporting and improving home safety and accessibility are also important steps. Supporting people to modify their homes or vehicles to meet their changing needs and providing personal care and homemaking services are practical strategies to support these goals.
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Family: Family support helps aging adults avoid social isolation. Supporting seniors and their caregivers to access and navigate living situations and transitions to supportive living are crucial.
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Health System: Strengthening home-care systems to deliver interventions, not just treatments, is essential. This would include strengthening the province's alternative level of care (ALC) services.
For the past 24 years, MODC has been the leading service provider for the administration of funding programs on behalf of provincial governments in home accessibility, most recently in Manitoba, through the Manitoba Safe and Healthy Homes for Seniors Program (MSHHS). As experts in the equipment and modification landscape, MODC can bring its proven best practices, processes, internal systems, and established vendor
relationships to support a streamlined, efficient, equitable funding program for Alberta residents.
MODC has been providing compassionate, professional personal care services for over 40 years and our experienced, caring staff have helped us grow into one of the largest attendant service providers in Canada. We provide services in over 42 assisted/supportive living settings across Canada, in addition to private homes and institutions. We have a growing track record in providing top of the line Alternative Level of Care services in several jurisdictions.
To support aging in place, we ask that the Government of Alberta invest in comprehensive community-based supports and services that enable seniors to live independently in their homes or communities. These investments will improve the quality of life for seniors, reduce the burden on long-term care facilities, and create cost savings for the healthcare system.
MODC recommends that:
- the Honourable Nate Horner, Honourable Adriana LaGrange, and Honourable Minister Jason Nixon to collaborate on determining the appropriate funding and resources needed to implement these critical supports in the upcoming budget.
Recommendation 4: Fund and implement services, supports, education and incentives to remove barriers to employment for Albertans with disabilities, and mitigate the risks presented by the upcoming, new Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP).
The Honourable Jason Nixon, Minister for Assisted Living and Social Services, has been mandated to implement the new Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) to create stronger pathways to employment for Albertans with disabilities. MODC was pleased to respond to the Government of Alberta's consultation on the new ADAP earlier this fall.
The Government of Alberta6 has proposed that ADAP aims to:
Empower Albertans with severe disabilities to pursue fulfilling job opportunities while continuing to receive the supports they need.
Support Albertans with severe disabilities with the health benefits they need, regardless of their employment income.
Offer enhanced employment services so Albertans with severe disabilities have the resources they need to gain new skills and be empowered to work to their full potential.
One of the most promising aspects of the ADAP is its focus on providing employment supports for people with disabilities who can pursue work. The commitment to providing tailored supports for workforce participation is a welcome development and aligns with broader goals of inclusion, autonomy, and economic empowerment for people with disabilities.
Several critical concerns must be addressed to ensure the program does not inadvertently harm those it aims to support. MODC urges the Government of Alberta to:
Fund and implement an ongoing and post-implementation evaluation process to assess ADAP's impact on employment, income stability, and psychosocial well-being, and use findings to inform ongoing improvements. This should involve ongoing consultation with people with disabilities and service providers, and the establishment of mechanisms for ongoing feedback, co-design, and collaboration with disability organizations and people with lived experience.
Fund services, supports, education and incentives to:
Ensure employers are aware of the benefits of hiring this typically untapped source of talent. This could include launching targeted employer education campaigns and offer financial incentives (e.g., wage subsidies, tax credits) to promote inclusive hiring and retention.
Address systemic discrimination and a lack of accessible, inclusive workplace practices that support long-term employment. This could include toolkits, training, and ongoing support to employers to help them meaningfully accommodate and retain employees with disabilities.
Be inclusive of diverse populations and ensure that data collection/reporting include equity-deserving groups.
Include tailored supports for self-employment within the Employment Services (ES) framework, such as business planning assistance, microgrants, mentorship, and access to digital tools.
We welcomed the government's previous commitment to expand funding for employment supports for Albertans with disabilities in its 2025 Fiscal Plan7, and request that continuing investments be made to address the concerns above.
MODC therefore recommends that:
the Honourable Nate Horner, Honourable Adriana LaGrange, and Honourable Minister Jason Nixon collaborate on determining the appropriate funding and resources needed to implement these critical supports in the upcoming budget.
About March of Dimes Canada
March of Dimes Canada is a leading national charity committed to championing equity, empowering ability, and creating real change that will help people with disabilities across the country unlock the richness of their lives.
Together with our partners, we serve, connect, and empower people with disabilities to participate fully in life and in their communities on their own terms. Our work is grounded in the voices of the people we serve, built on a foundation of service, and backed by more than 70 years of success.
We've proven time and again our dedication to serving the needs of people living with disabilities. Born in one of the 20th century's greatest public health crises, we know that seemingly impossible goals can be achieved, and barriers can be broken. In the 1950s, March of Dimes Canada helped fund a vaccine for polio. Now, we are working on creating communities in which people with disabilities can live and thrive nationwide.
We're proud to support people with disabilities across Canada, from the early years to seniors. Our services extend beyond the individual to families who feel the impact of disability in different ways. Their collective experiences play a critical role in shaping our work as a service provider, resource, and advocate, which is focused in four areas:
Financial security.
Active, healthy, connected lives.
Independence at home and in the community.
The best start for children, youth, and families.
These are the things people with disabilities told us they need, want, and expect out of life.
Our staff and volunteers are allies, supporters, and champions committed to making a difference for people with disabilities. With the guidance of our community, and working together with our donors and partners, we provide the tools and support our service users need to live independently, improve their health and wellness, and thrive in all they aspire to do.
1 Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System (CCDSS).
https://health-infobase.canada.ca/ccdss/data-tool/Index?G=00&V=9&M=5&Y=2017#summaryTable. Accessed December 1, 2025.
2 Chen, A., Bushmeneva, K., Zagorski, B., Colantonio, A., Parsons, D., & Wodchis, W. P. (2012). Direct cost associated with acquired brain injury in Ontario. BMC Neurology, 12, Article 76.
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2014-49661-001. Accessed December 1, 2025
3 Wall, K.
Low income among persons with a disability in Canada. Statistics Canada, 2017.
4 Government of Alberta.
https://www.alberta.ca/seniors-resources. Accessed January 8 2025.
5 Canadian Survey on Disability,2022.
https://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p2SV.pl?Function=getSurvey&SDDS=3251 November 2023.
6 The Government of Alberta. “Transforming disability income assistance in Alberta | Discussion guide." September 2025, p.4
7 The Government of Alberta. “Fiscal Plan: Meeting the Challenge. 2025-2028".
https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/5ebd05dc-d598-440b-9da2-25f37cd99a49/resource/43bccd72-36fa-41a4-becd-cb8c28da9683/download/budget-2025-fiscal-plan-2025-28.pdf. Accessed December 17, 2025.
