Our Next BIG Idea!
Posted on behalf of Sheila Regehr, Chairperson, Basic Income Canada Network
With our newly-launched website, Basic Income Canada Network is now working to become a more dynamic News leader! You will see stories unfolding regularly over the coming weeks that demonstrate our commitment to curate and create basic income news. To continue providing information about developments as they happen, however, we’ll depend on ongoing financial support--from people like you.
Read moreWhether left or right, basic income just makes sense: Hugh Segal
By Roderick Benns
Publisher of Leaders and Legacies, a social purpose news site
There’s a reason the issue of a basic income guarantee never seems to go away, says retired Conservative Senator Hugh Segal — the idea simply makes too much sense. Basic income (also called a guaranteed annual income) would see any Canadian who falls below the poverty line topped up with enough money to cover a basic living standard. Almost all models for basic income implementation would see it replace provincial welfare systems.
Segal says there are three things driving the support for this policy change.
Read moreMontreal-area mayor says basic income needed to end poverty
By Roderick Benns
Publisher of Leaders and Legacies, a social purpose news site
A Montreal-area mayor says it’s time to adopt a basic income policy in Canada to eliminate poverty. Mayor Danie Deschenes of Notre–Dame-de-l’Île–Perrot, just west of the island of Montreal in Quebec, says “all elected officials could be supporting the idea of all citizens having a basic income.”
She sees it as a way to overcome poor housing and a sub-standard quality of life for people.
“As elected officials, we should strive to improve our citizens’ lives and the lives of their children,” says Deschenes.
Read more
‘There’s a good case to be made for a basic income:’ Halifax mayor
By Roderick Benns
Publisher of Leaders and Legacies, a social purpose news site
Another big city mayor in Canada says he supports the concept of a basic income guarantee to combat inequality and create better social cohesion. Halifax Mayor Mike Savage says “there’s a good case to be made for a basic income,” pointing out there are many advantages in ensuring that people have their basic needs met.
“I think we would have more social cohesion and a better balance of opportunities. We would have a narrowing of the gap between the very rich and the very poor. And we would have a more productive workforce because many would access new opportunities,” says Savage, who heads the largest city in the Atlantic Region of Canada.
Read moreFive New Brunswick mayors say it’s time for basic income across Canada
By Roderick Benns
Publisher of Leaders and Legacies, a social purpose news site
Five mayors from New Brunswick are speaking out in favour of basic income guarantee policy — including the mayor of Fredericton, the capital city.
Bill Bishop (Rothesay - top left photo); Yvon Lapierre (Dieppe - top centre); Gerry Cormier (Miramichi - bottom left); Cyrille Simard (Edmundston - bottom centre); and Brad Woodside (Fredericton - far right), have all indicated various levels of support for the policy that is gaining more interest across Canada.
Read moreLocal economies would benefit from basic income policy: Victoria mayor
By Roderick Benns
Publisher of Leaders and Legacies, a social purpose news site
The mayor of Victoria, Lisa Helps, says basic income policy and robust local economies go hand in hand.
“There is a strong link between having a basic income and creating a strong local economy. There is more money to circulate and it supports the ‘buy local’ movement,” she says.
“So that means it’s good for the people who need more to live on, but also for the goods and services being sold by our business community,” Helps says.
Many Canadian mayors were invited to complete a national survey by Leaders and Legacies, in order to gauge municipal level support for a basic income guarantee policy. Her city – Victoria – represents the sixth provincial or territorial capital leader to support the policy.
Read moreTen Ontario mayors call for basic income policy
By Roderick Benns
Publisher of Leaders and Legacies, a social purpose news site
Ten mayors from cities and towns across Ontario are speaking out in favour of basic income guarantee policy.
Mayors across Canada were asked to complete a national survey by Leaders and Legacies, in order to gauge municipal level support for a basic income guarantee policy. Results are slowing being released as data is gathered.
Read more