As Alberta gears up for municipal elections on October 20, 2025, individuals with intellectual disabilities, their families and allies have a chance to shape the future of our communities. Now is the time to make sure local leadership understands and is committed to the role local government can have in advancing inclusion for children and adults with intellectual disabilities to live, work, and participate fully in our communities.   

Why municipal elections matter 

Municipal governments operate recreation programs and public transportation, partner to develop affordable housing, and are major local employers.  

How to get involved 

First, either: 

1. Email questions (see below) to candidates and ask for written responses or 

1. Contact candidates to request an in-person meeting.   

You can find your candidates’ contact information on the election page of your municipal government.  

Consider sharing responses publicly—on social media and with your networks. Even a candidate’s silence speaks volumes. 

You can also raise these issues at candidate forums and events or just chatting with them when they knock on your door. We get that it’s not always the easiest or most convenient thing to do! 

We know most candidates will be uninformed of what municipalities can do to improve the lives of children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families and may be hesitant to promise something they are unsure how to deliver. That’s why your goal should be not just to discuss policies and programs but to make a personal connection. Let them know your story, how long you’ve lived in the community, how you’re connected in the community, and your hopes and dreams as someone with an intellectual disability or a family member or friend.  

Suggested questions to ask municipal candidates 

Below are five possible questions to ask municipal candidates. You may want to add questions related to local issues specific to your community.  

1. Several Alberta municipalities have made a commitment to employ individuals with intellectual disabilities and have acted on that commitment.  How will you ensure your municipality becomes an inclusive employer of individuals with intellectual disabilities or expands its existing commitment? 
2. Children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families want to be included in all aspects of community life and not restricted to programs only for people with disabilities. How will you ensure the recreation, leisure and cultural programs offered to all members of your municipality are equally welcoming and inclusive of children and adults with intellectual disabilities? 
3. The lack of accessible transportation is a major challenge, limiting individuals with disabilities from fully participating in all aspects of community life. In smaller or rural communities, public transportation may not exist.  What actions will you be taking to improve the availability of accessible and inclusive public transportation for individuals with disabilities, or to develop transportation options if public transportation does not exist?  
4. High rates of poverty and lack of supports make a home in community unobtainable for many people with an intellectual disability. People with an intellectual disability want to make their own decisions regarding where and with whom to live but are often placed in Continuing Care facilities, group homes, and social housing where they are congregated and segregated with other people requiring support rather than being included in their community. Would you be willing to work with individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families to create policies and partnerships that support inclusive, affordable and accessible housing?  
5. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) passed the Supporting Canadians through a Stronger Canada Disability Benefit resolution that had been proposed by the City of Edmonton. The resolution states that there should be no “reduction in other funding supports provided to people with disabilities” by provinces and territories, precisely the thing that the Government of Alberta has done by clawing back the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) from individuals who receive AISH. It’s encouraging that the national body representing municipalities has taken this stand. Municipalities should be advocating through their provincial associations against this clawback that perpetuates poverty and reduces spending circulating through local economies. Will you support a Alberta Municipalities or Rural Municipalities of Alberta policy resolution advocating that the province stop pocketing this benefit that was supposed to go to people with disabilities?  

Once you’ve had the conversation or gotten a written response, please let us know what was said by taking two minutes to complete this form.  

Thank you in advance for your advocacy. If you have any questions or need any assistance, please contact us at info@inclusionalberta.org or by calling 1-800-252-7556. 

Let’s make inclusion a priority in every town and city across Alberta!