Not much, but some.
Because the hard truth is, any time we get an increase in AISH, Alberta Health Services usually forces the hands of assisted living facilities, tellng them what to charge residents so that they (the assisted living providers) can continue to receive funding and services. The good people who run the institutions are therefore forced to don black hats and raise our rents.
If the AISH increase would be the $400 dollars Premier Redford promised us when she was running, we would have some breathing room if our rents were increased.
But yesterday the premier revealed that the increase would in fact be $100.
Again, enough left over for incidentals, a can of tomato soup, and maybe a box of Kraft Dinner.
But not much else.
Thankfully, some have friends and family they can turn to for a few bucks here and there, or help with food and transportation.
But not everybody has that option, Madam Premier.
By breaking your promise to Alberta's disabled community, you have alienated a significant portion of our province's population.
You are probably looking to stay on as premier through the next election, but I don't see how you will.
Unless you embrace the following four words:
Cost Of Living Increase.
That would mean you wouldn't be tied to a concrete number.
You probably won't take up the initiative, as tied up with corporate interests as you seem to be.
But I know that Danielle Smith has taken up a cost of living increase initiative regarding AISH, and plans to follow through should Wildrose be elected.
I receive $2015 per month in modified AISH because I live in an assisted living facility. I pay just over $1700 in rent, which covers three meals in a cafeteria, as well as great care, three daily snacks, and recreational activities. So I don't mind paying that.
Except that leaves me about $315 for bills and incidentals. So a cost of living increase sounds good to me, as I'm sure it would to you if you were im my situation. Yes, I know a lot of our medical and dental is paid for, but some isn't.
You have the opportunity to bump the AISH increase back to $400 and become a hero to Alberta's disabled community and the country at large, by giving us a fair shake.
Or you can leave the increase at $100, in effect telling the disabled to eat cake and going down in history as Alberta's Marie Antoinette.
The choice is yours.
Your Partner In Life
