Canada's bold Basic Income Program and its benefits

A Bold Canadian Program That’s Reducing Poverty and Growing the Economy

It's Good For The Economy

• CCB contributes $46B annually to the Canadian economy – exceeding the economy of Nova Scotia

• CCB related spending drives $85B / year in revenues & 18B in gross profits to businesses

• 453,000 full time equivalent jobs are contributed by the CCB, 2.5% of the Canadian labor force

• Every dollar invested drives $2 of GDP and more than 55 cents of is recouped in taxes from economic activity

• Drives $4 of GDP for every dollar it costs

• Has caused $27B in private capital investment and and $77B in wage growth since inception

It's Good For Families

• Keeps 588,000 children and 250,000 families out of poverty & raises family incomes of another 750,000 children above $20k/yr

• Grew the middle class: median incomes for families with one child up by almost $4,000 / year and families with four children up by nearly 19,000

• For the more than half of the recipients whose household’s earn more than $60,000/year, the CCB helps keep them in the middle class.

• Better access to nutritious food and improved physical, mental, and cognitive health outcomes, mean that these children will do better in school and in life

Canada Has Demonstrated A National-Scale Basic Income 

• Over 400,000 families are receiving more than $1,000 / month

• Over 225,000 families are receiving more then $1400 / month

• 100,000 low income single moms are receiving $1000 / month

• 1.1M families are receiving more than $600 / month

• 67% of Canadian families are helped with CCB

• 90% of children under 18 are in families that get CCB

• Canada has had 3 years (since CCB payment expansion) of economic growth, low inflation, and more people working with unemployment levels at 40 year lows.

Excerpts from exciting new study by UBIworks. Click link to visit and see the complete report.

It’s possible to eradicate poverty in Canada “Let’s ask for this to be on all candidates’ platforms, regardless of their parties”

The interior of a thrift shop in Baker Lake that the Abluqta Society opened in 2017 to provide clothes and toys to low-income people in the community. (File photo)

By Jack Bourassa
Public Service Alliance of Canada

A homeless person asking for change. An unemployed hopeless youth. A single parent working two jobs. A worker earning a minimum wage that’s way below a living wage. A child deprived of nutritious food. A family striving to find an affordable place to call home.

Poverty is real and we witness it every day.

Defined as economic deprivation, poverty is more than that. Poverty is an assault on human rights.

People susceptible to poverty experience it differently, but for many there is one shared factor: it’s hard to get out of the cycle of poverty. Sadly, poverty could be passed to the next generation as well.

It doesn’t help to turn a blind eye to the social and political factors that contribute to poverty.

But there is one simple concept that we can all adopt: by lifting each other up, we will all have better economic and social standards. However, this requires political will.

The good news is that eradicating poverty in Canada is possible, and you can take the steps to make this happen. If there are many of us concerned, poverty will be history.

A federal election is around the corner and there is a chance for eradicating poverty to be a top priority— with collective action, let’s ask for this to be on all candidates’ platforms, regardless of their parties. Eradicating poverty must not be partisan.

What are your plans to eradicate poverty? This is the classic question asked to candidates during debates, forums, town hall meetings, etc. It is an open-ended question that might divert the attention away from the real solution.

In order to be informed about the candidates’ commitments towards eradicating poverty, we need to have a better understanding of what solutions would help.

Canada’s poverty rate is 9.5 per cent. That’s 3.4 million Canadians deprived of economic resources and, thus, deprived of living a decent dignified life.

Poverty is a concern in the North, particularly in remote communities. The market basket measure (MBM) is used to measure Canada’s poverty line. MBM is a measure of low income based on the cost of a specified basket of goods and services representing a modest, basic standard of living. This, certainly, differs from region to region and from community to another.

For instance, Statistics Canada has yet to determine how the MBM would be adjusted to represent areas of the northern territories beyond the capitals. This means that the poverty rate could be higher than the current estimates.

There is no one solution to lower, and to later bring an end to poverty. A system that lifts individuals and communities up has to be an integrated one with sustainable models that complement each other. Let’s explore ways in which governments (federal and territorial) could work together to improve the standard of living in the North.

There is no doubt that access to affordable housing would help. This could help people who would otherwise have to choose between paying rent or buying groceries.

Being employed does not mean being immune to poverty. With the high cost of living in the North, the minimum wages in the territories are way below living wages.

In addition to that, an individual working for a minimum wage often does not have access to work benefits. For example, they might not have medical benefits that cover prescription drugs.

The World Health Organization identifies poverty as the single largest determinant of health, and “ill health is an obstacle to social and economic development.”

Universal pharmacare comes to my mind as a solution here— this program is going to ensure that everyone with access to health care will also have access to prescription drugs.

Addressing poverty also means addressing food insecurity in northern remote communities. Improving access to affordable nutritious food reduces poverty in northern remote communities.

There is one model that I want all of us to look at: the universal basic income. I believe that if implemented, this will have the greatest impact towards eradicating poverty.

For this solution to have a concrete effect, it has to be introduced by the federal government and implemented nationally.

Under this model, low-income households will receive a monthly stipend. This income will need to take into account diverse needs, realities and geographic locations.

Can we afford that? Investing in people and lifting individuals, families and communities above the poverty line is more affordable than dealing with the implications of poverty.

Enacting policies that help end poverty is a long-term investment that will not only benefit those who are below the poverty line, but future generations to come.

Helping a family doesn’t only mean helping the parents, but helping their children get a better education and better health care and be productive citizens giving back to their communities in the future.

Poverty must be history; child poverty must be eradicated urgently. Let this issue unleash the activist within each one of us and motivate us to take an action.

During the upcoming federal election, let’s be vigilant about poverty. We need a system that prioritizes the welfare of our communities.

This will not happen unless we as individuals and communities prioritize ending poverty. Let’s recall what Nelson Mandela said: “As long as poverty, injustice, and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.”

Jack Bourassa has been a member of the Public Service Alliance of Canada since 1999, and has served as regional executive vice-president for the North since 2014.

Posted by: Roderick Benns 362sc on September 02, 2019 at Basic Income Canada Network

Ont. Liberal leadership candidate promises to bring back Basic Income Pilot

Ontairo Liberal leadership candidate Alvin Tedjo is promising to revive the Universal Basic Income Project. (Twitter / Alan Tedjo)

Posted by Roderick Benns 362sc on August 20, 2019

CTV News

Ontario Liberal leadership candidate Alvin Tedjo is promising to revive the Universal Basic Income Project, which was cut by the Doug Ford government this year, and expand it across the province if the party is elected in 2022.

In a major policy proposal, the leadership contender tells CTV News Toronto offering the program province-wide would come with a $5 to $6-billion price tag, but could also result in billions of dollars in cost savings and economic spinoffs.

"All of that money goes back into the economy immediately because they buy food, they pay for rent, they buy clothing and that adds to the tax base and people's incomes," Tedjo said.

The former Liberal government launched a pilot project in 2016, giving 4,000 participants a basic income -- $16,989 for a single person, $24,027 for a couple -- which cost the government $150 million.

The pilot was ended by the Ford government last March by then Social Services Minister Lisa MacLeod, who claimed it was a "disincentive" for participants to find work. 

To read more, click here.

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Greens target poverty with basic income pitch

Winnipeg Free Press

A provincial Green government would implement a basic income for all Manitobans, if elected Sept. 10.

Green Leader James Beddome said it would cost $1.58 billion per year to pull every Manitoban out of poverty.

"We wanted to show what Manitoba could do alone," he said at a news conference Friday, flanked by federal Green Leader Elizabeth May.

"This is very doable and well within our means."

The Green plan would begin with $7,200 for a single adult. For a family, the basic income payment would be reduced to zero for a single adult making $53,333 in annual income and $75,407 for a two-adult family. The party says it's proposal would provide an extra $6,120 per year to a post-secondary student earning $8,000, and a full-time minimum-wage earner with an additional $4,000 per year.

May said if her party is elected in the coming federal election, she would look at expanding what the Manitoba branch wants to do by putting in place a guaranteed livable income across the country.

For further reading see Roderick Benns article at: https://www.basicincomecanada.org/greens_target_poverty_with_basic_income_pitch

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Letter to Politicians

Hi All, below you find a form letter that you can use to write to politicians. You can use this letter by copying it from this page and then editing it for your own purpose. You could e-mail this letter to your representative or drop the letter of at the campaign offices in your riding. It’s simple and easy and you can ask the recipients to respond

Dear Politician, 

With the Federal election approaching, I wanted to write to you to urge you to support instituting a Basic Income in Canada. 

What is a Basic Income? 

A Basic Income is an income that ensures the recipient has enough money to meet the necessities of life, including food, clothing, shelter, and other resources that facilitate social engagement, such as access to travel and a means of communication. A Basic Income would be paid to individual adults. The amount will be based upon an agreed upon poverty measure (around $20,000). 

Why do we need a Basic Income? 

1. Many people are living in poverty or are just a step away from poverty. Poverty causes toxic stress which in turn causes social, emotional, and physical harm. People in poverty often experience food insecurity and live in inadequate housing and dangerous environments. The current social assistance system is insufficient, punitive and demoralizing. A Basic Income would drastically reduce poverty and allow people to participate as full citizens in society, with dignity and security. 

2. Employment is becoming increasingly precarious. Full-time, permanent employment opportunities are declining. A Basic Income would provide a much-needed safety net when a person is between jobs. A Basic Income would value and support all work: entrepreneurial endeavours, creative activities, caring for family and friends, volunteering, etc... 

3. Rural communities are suffering. Work is hard to find and infrastructure is crumbling. A Basic Income would infuse much need revenue into these communities. 

4. Income disparity is at an all time high and growing. A small number of people control the great majority of wealth while many others suffer. 

What does the research say? 

1. Pilot studies in countries as varied as Canada, Finland, and India show that, with a Basic Income, Poverty is dramatically reduced, paid work levels remain similar, people are able to make choices, health and well-being improves, hospital visits decline, trust in government goes up. 

2. In Canada, people 65 and over receive Old Age Security and a Guaranteed Income Supplement which is a form of Basic Income. After their implementation, poverty levels in seniors dropped dramatically and is now at levels below any other age group, food security and health improved. 

Is a Basic Income all we need? 

Absolutely not! A Basic Income must be part of a comprehensive social safety net. 

Is a Basic Income affordable in Canada? 

Yes, but Provinces and Territories cannot do it alone. The Parliamentary Budget Office has costed a Basic Income. Studies using this estimate have shown that a Basic Income in Canada can be funded in a revenue neutral way through reallocation of selected federal tax credits, making the system more equitable and transferring benefits to those most in need. 

What politicians can do. 

1. Make Basic Income a part of your party’s platform. 

2. Help develop a road map to a Basic Income. 

3. Urge all levels of government and all parties to work together to implement a Basic Income. 

The time is right, the need is strong. Please help. 

If you would like further information, please contact Elizabeth Kay-Raining Bird, Chair of Basic Income Guarantee-Nova Scotia by email at rainbird@dal.ca. 

Sincerely, 

Your Name 

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