Alberta 2026 Poverty Report Card

Alberta enters 2026 without the surpluses that characterized 2023–25.  

Budget 2026, tabled on February 26, 2026, projects a deficit of $9.4 billion for 2026/27, driven primarily by a sustained drop in global oil prices. Despite this shift, the government has maintained its commitment to no new taxes and no “drastic” cuts to social services, while signalling that income-testing and spending restraint will increasingly shape program eligibility going forward.  

The government has moved ahead with a new Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) which will come into effect in July 2026. All 77,000 recipients of the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) will be moved onto the new program at $200 less per month than the 2025 AISH rate, and employment earning exemptions will fall from $1,000 to $350 per month. The government has also removed the legislative requirement for annual cost-of-living increases, so future benefit levels are no longer protected from inflation. Disability advocates and community organizations have characterized this as one of the largest single cuts to supports for people with disabilities in Alberta’s history. Alberta is the only jurisdiction in Canada that claws back the federal Canada Disability Benefit.  

Alberta still has no formal poverty reduction strategy. The government's preferred framing — that economic growth and employment are the primary routes out of poverty — continued to define its approach, even as the province’s unemployment rate climbed to 7.1% and food insecurity reached 30.9%, the highest of any province in the country.  

On affordability, Budget 2026 maintains the commitment to $15/day childcare and allocates $405 million to the Alberta Child and Family Benefit and $586.6 million to the Alberta Seniors Benefit. However, single adults without children remain largely excluded from direct income top-up programs. A new Alberta Caregiver Credit will replace existing caregiver tax credits from 2027, offering modest savings for people who are caring for eligible adult relatives.  

The government’s Affordable Housing Partnership Program receives $768 million over three years with plans to build13,000 new units. However, demand continues to outstrip supply, particularly in Calgary, where rents for one-bedroom accommodations reached $1,800–$2,100/month in late 2024. This was one of the highest year-over-year increases in Canada. Alberta still has no rent control or vacancy control.  

Alberta’s minimum wage remains frozen at $15.00/hour. This rate is unchanged since 2018 — although in real terms it is worth less now after years of inflation — and is the lowest in Canada. BC’s minimum wage will reach $18.25/hour in June 2026, and Ontario’s is currently $17.60/hour. There is therefore a 22% gap between Alberta and BC that affects workforce quality and depth of poverty among people who earn low wages.  

On the federal–provincial front, Alberta ratified the Canada-Alberta National School Food Program Agreement in March 2025, unlocking $43 million in federal funding over three years. However, Alberta has not signed a pharmacare agreement under the federal Pharmacare Act. It argues that its existing Blue Cross program adequately covers gaps. The Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care agreement expired in March 2026 and has not been renewed, creating uncertainty about future childcare funding levels.  

Affordability 

Establish a permanent rent control guideline and dedicate new oil and gas revenues to rapidly building affordable housing. 
Alberta has not revisited rent control since the defeat of Bill 205 in April 2024, and it remains the only province without any form of rent increase cap. With inflation still high and rental markets under pressure because of rapid population growth, households that rent continue to face significant affordability risks. Implementing a permanent rent guideline would provide much-needed stability for tenants. Efforts to protect tenants should be paired with continued investments in new housing supply, as these approaches are complementary, not interchangeable. At the same time, the provincial government is expected to see a significant near-term influx of revenues as a result of recent global commodity prices. A minimum of $2 billion should be dedicated over the next year toward helping stimulate a significant expansion of affordable housing, followed by a 0.5% annual budget commitment going forward. 

Income Security 

Transform the $600 affordability payment into a comprehensive Alberta family benefit. 
The one time affordability payments have not been converted into a permanent earnings supplement. Budget 2026 provides $405 million in 2026/27 for the Alberta Child and Family Benefit, but adults without children, including single workers with low incomes, remain excluded from meaningful income top ups. A permanent, refundable Alberta family benefit would support all working households, including single adults, with low incomes and provide more income security. 

Reverse the Government’s position on the Canada Disability Benefit and commit to no clawbacks. 
Alberta remains the only province to claw back the $200/month Canada Disability Benefit from AISH recipients. This practice will continue under the new Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP). Beginning July 2026, all 77,000 AISH recipients will move to ADAP, which provides $200 less per month than the 2025 AISH rate, and reduces employment earnings exemptions from $1,000 to $350 per month. The Government should reverse these clawbacks and restore the legislated requirement for annual cost of living adjustments. 

Labour Market Reform 

Introduce an Alberta Opportunities Award for residents with low incomes who are moving into pre apprenticeship training. 
Skilled trades remain one of the most reliable pathways out of poverty for Albertans who do not have post secondary credentials. Although Budget 2026 prioritizes workforce development, targeted supports for individuals with low incomes who are undertaking trades training remain limited. An Alberta Opportunities Award — up to six months of social assistance income, paid in two installments — for participants in pre apprenticeship or classroom based apprenticeship programs would create a meaningful financial bridge and reward continued participation. The program could leverage the existing Canada Alberta Job Grant framework for partial funding. 

Addressing Inequities 

Develop a new provincial poverty reduction strategy with measurable targets, annual reporting, and legislative accountability. 
Without a shared framework, government ministries, municipalities, non-profits, and community organizations cannot align their efforts or hold governments to account. This creates a patchwork of programs that overlap in some areas, leave critical gaps in others, and cannot be evaluated against any common standard of progress. A shared framework should include legally binding or publicly committed poverty reduction targets (e.g., a 50% reduction in the poverty rate within 10 years); annual reporting on a standardized suite of indicators covering income, food security, housing, health, and employment; and cross-ministerial governance structures that integrate the work of Social Services, Housing, Labour, Health, and Education.