006. Speaking Out on ADAP: A Conversation with MLA Marie Renaud & Advocate Zachary Weeks

Episode Summary:

In this episode of We Advocate, Gordon and Annie sit down with two powerful voices in Alberta’s disability community: MLA Marie Renaud (St. Albert, Opposition Shadow Minister for Community & Social Services) and disability advocate Zachary Weeks.

Together, they unpack what’s happening behind the scenes with the proposed Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP), from the lack of meaningful consultation to fears about reduced benefits, reassessments, and the real-world impact on people who rely on AISH.

Marie offers an insider’s view of how legislation actually moves through the Alberta Legislature (and how that process is being shortened and constrained), while Zachary shares what he’s hearing directly from disabled Albertans: fear, anxiety, and a growing sense that they are being pushed further into poverty and blamed for needing support.

This is a grounded, honest conversation about policy, power, and people - and what all of us can do next.

Why this matters:

• This isn’t abstract policy — it’s rent, food, and medication.
• It sets the tone for how Alberta treats disabled people.
• The process signals how other systems may be changed.
• Families and caregivers are being pushed to the breaking point.
• Silence will be read as consent. 

Key Takeaways:

• ADAP is coming — but the rules aren’t clear. The government has announced the Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) to “replace” or sit alongside AISH, but so far we have only a discussion paper and vague timelines, not full legislation or detailed regulations.
• Democratic process is being squeezed. Marie explains that debates in the Legislature are often shortened or pushed through multiple stages in a single day, meaning fewer MLAs get to speak and big changes can pass with minimal scrutiny.
• People with disabilities are being left out of the design.
• There has been no meaningful consultation with the disability community, front-line advocates, or opposition MLAs on how ADAP should work — despite it fundamentally changing financial supports for ~80,000 people on AISH.
• Fear and anxiety are sky-high.

Disabled Albertans are worried about:

• Mass reassessments of AISH recipients
• Being judged on a simplistic idea of “ability to work”
• Losing benefits or being pushed onto a lower-benefit tier with no clear appeal path
• The employment promise doesn’t match reality.

Government messaging suggests ADAP will “empower” people to work, but:

• There is no robust infrastructure to support disabled workers
• Employers aren’t being meaningfully prepared or educated
• Even non-disabled Albertans are struggling to find stable, livable-wage work

Memorable Lines:

“I’ve never seen this magnitude of change with so little information.” – Marie

“They’re drafting programs and policies at a table where the very people affected aren’t even sitting.” – Zachary

“We used to be proud that Alberta led the way on disability supports. Now we’re watching that pedestal crumble.” – Gordon

Resources & Links:

Government of Alberta – ADAP Discussion Guide 

We Advocate – ADAP Summary Whitepaper (VanderLeek Law & Disability Advocates)
Gordon’s 4-page plain-language summary of the ADAP changes, intended to help families, advocates, and even MLAs understand what’s coming. 

Disability Advocate for Alberta – Contact Page
Where individ