Something (ELSE) that Conservative Pro-Lifers Need to Understand

The UCP's treatment of Albertans with disabilities is causing moral distress among disability advocates who oppose MAID

The UCP is causing those of us in the disability community who support their Bill 18, the Safeguards for Last Resort Termination of Life Act, IMMENSE MORAL DISTRESS because of the utter disrespect—indeed, cruelty—with which they continue to treat disabled Albertans.

First, they clawed back the Canadian Disability Benefit from AISH recipients, many of whom are already living in poverty such that they regularly have to choose between paying rent or buying groceries. Alberta was THE ONLY PROVINCE to claw back the CDB from disability income recipients.

Then, they pushed through their forced workfare program, ADAP, which will force disabled Albertans to prove their ultimate worth as human beings through paid employment. It will force thousands of severely disabled Albertans who have already proven—often over the course of years and decades—that they cannot work at a level which will allow them to survive to try to find and keep competitive employment in an ever-shrinking job market, regardless of whether or not their bodies or minds can sustain that employment. The disability community’s opposition to ADAP has been and remains unanimous. Yet, Minister Jason Nixon continues to insist that we “asked for” ADAP. Frankly, this makes him sound more like an abuser than a Minister of Social Services.

And THEN, just a few days ago, the UCP government defeated a Private Member’s Bill, The Accessible Alberta Act, which NDP MLA, Marie Renaud, brought forward. The Bill was the product of a year of consultation—Imagine that, actual consultation!!—with the disability community, as well as business leaders, architects, and others. There was nothing partisan in this bill. It was truly just a step towards affording Albertans with disabilities the same access to places and services that our fellow Albertans without disabilities take for granted.

AND YET, the UCP government unanimously defeated this bill. Why? Well, according to SS Abuser-in-Chief, Jason Nixon, they’re already doing enough to support Albertans with disabilities.

I’ve said this before, but once more for the folks in the back:

IT IS HYPOCRITICAL TO CLAIM TO BE PRO-LIFE AND YET HAVE NO QUALMS ABOUT MAKING PEOPLE’S LIVES UNLIVEABLE, AND DENYING THAT THAT’S WHAT YOU’RE DOING!!!

So, to sum up:

Do I support Alberta’s restrictions on MAID? Yes!

Do I support the UCP and its treatment of disabled people? NO, NOPE, NEIN, NYET, NO WAY, JOSE!

Thanks for reading! 😊