As it does annually, the Alberta government is soliciting the views of Albertans on their priorities for government spending in the 2024-25 provincial budget. You have until January 19th to complete the government’s online budget survey which can be found here. This is an opportunity to make government aware of the need to increase funding for supports for people with developmental disabilities and their families.  

Budget 2023 provided an increase to the Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) program budget to address the need for increased staff wages, funding for indirect costs for service providers, and services for individuals on the wait list. This funding has had some positive impact.  

In the time since Budget 2023 was announced, Alberta’s unprecedented population growth has added pressure to the PDD program and to the Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) program as families move to the province for work. Each week, individuals with developmental disabilities and their families contact Inclusion Alberta for assistance as they struggle without services or with insufficient services.  

Maintaining Alberta’s economic growth requires that housing and schools be built to provide for the growing population. As a critical component of Alberta’s social and economic infrastructure, PDD and FSCD services also must expand to address the growing population and continuing high rate of inflation. Alberta’s economy depends on it.  

This survey is an opportunity for you to communicate your own personal views on what the budget priorities should be. Below we offer suggestions on how your survey responses can express that a top priority for you is for government to better support people with developmental disabilities and their families.  

Question 8:  Choose ‘Other’ and consider including the following points in your response:  “Increase PDD and FSCD funding to fully account for the inflation and caseload growth of 2023-24 so that funding will be sufficient to serve new individuals on the wait list. Plan future increases to the PDD and FSCD budgets to equal inflation plus caseload growth.”  

Question 14: Index social benefits to inflation: check ‘Strongly support’. 

Question 15: Some possible answers could include: “Provide funding to address gaps in FSCD services for rural and Indigenous families. Supports should be available regardless of geographical barriers.” OR  “Increase FSCD funding to match inflation and caseload growth so that families receive timely access to services that are critically important for their children’s development and inclusion.”  OR  “Increase PDD funding to fully account for the inflation and caseload growth of 2023-24 so that funding will be sufficient to serve new individuals on the wait list. Plan future increases to the PDD budget to equal inflation plus caseload growth.” 

Question 18:  Social Supports: Check ‘More’. 

Question 19: Your answer could include: “PDD and FSCD services are critical components of Alberta’s social and economic infrastructure and must be funded to address population growth and inflation.”  

Thank you for taking the time to consider our perspective and to complete the Alberta Government’s 2024 Budget Survey.

 The survey can be found here and is open until January 19th.