Conference session

This presentation explores how the ‘deservingness’ discourse evolved over time in the province of Alberta. And how this discourse advances or inhibits equity denied groups’ access to financial support in Alberta. British colonization is a prominent institutional ancestor of settler-colonial Alberta and its social welfare system. Since implementing the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) income support program in 1979, the Alberta government has oscillated between decreases and increases to this costly program continuing into 2026. Ongoing connections between Alberta’s social welfare system, its deservingness discourse towards benefit recipients, and its global-colonial-historical links are underexplored. In deservingness discourse, media is used to expediently shape public perceptions towards welfare recipients. Using a discourse historical approach (DHA) this presentation will analyze how ideologies, values, and power relations are embedded within discursive texts (e.g., Alberta newspapers from 1979-2025) analyzing their transnational contexts. This research will help structurally and historically equity-denied groups advocate their position, all while increasing accountability for those who can increase said equity (e.g. The Government of Alberta). This work highlights the media discourse of AISH exploring themes of: Alberta exceptionalism, eligibility questioning, and critical administrative dynamics. As there is a call for social problems-oriented research in the social sciences, this presentation will help answer that call.