Economic Security for All Canadians Basic Income Economic Security for All Canadians Presentation for Nepean Rideau Osgoode Community Resource Centre March 25, 2015 by Ellie Topp and Clarke Topp Members of Group Ottawa for BIG and of BICN

Overview Basic Income Guarantee [BIG] A BIG offers Broad Social Improvement Poverty reduction, precarious labour, inequality The Impact of Poverty Welfare demeans, health declines, desperation A Basic Income allows Changes With income, people can build their life BIG is an investment in human capital Basic Income is partially in Canada now A View on the Cost of BIG Going forward from today – Join BICN

What is Basic Income? A basic income is a guaranteed minimum income BICN believes that all Canadians should have universal and unconditional access to a regular income that pays for the basic necessities of life, such as food, clothing, and a warm place to live Regardless of your wages or other earnings, your income would never fall below a minimum level Given to individuals on a monthly basis (like Old Age Security or Child Tax Credit)

Basic Income – Two Main Types With variations: Universal Demogrant : everyone eligible receives it Ø irrespective of need – highly egalitarian Negative Income Tax : focused on those whose Ø income falls below a stated threshold to receive income support to bring them to that threshold

Rationale for Basic Income: Three massive problems Poverty: Basic income can eliminate it. Inequality: Basic income can close the gap – in income but more so in personal opportunity and in empowerment. Precarious labour: Basic income can help offset the negative effects of outsourcing, automation and other changes in the labour market.

Poverty’s Impact on People Welfare is demeaning and stigmatizing Working poor are stressed Foodbanks continue Health declines Desperation and defeatism come in

Central to the rationale of basic income is to uphold and strengthen human dignity – to move away from stigmatizing, dehumanizing, inadequate, ineffective and inefficient forms of income security, notably welfare.

Poverty’s Impact on Society Health care system Justice system Work and productivity Child development Human rights and human potential

Physicians like Dr. Gary Bloch in Toronto are advocating for “income prescriptions” for poverty: basic income can be that prescription.

Basic Income allows Change People can choose better food and shelter Health and well-being improve Adequately nourished, workers concentrate better; mistakes/accidents decline; productivity improves Children focus better on schoolwork People seek more fulfilling work or undertake caring for elderly/disabled/ill family members Basic Income: Investment in People

Basic income is not a panacea : it must be within a robust social security framework that includes many forms of social support. Earned and Other Income Aspired Wants Other Social Supports Private Pursuit Housing Transportation Education & Training Supports Supports Supports Physical, Dental & Additional Needs Mental Health Circumstantial Child Care & Early Disability Supports Labour Market Supports Supports Childhood Development Access to Justice Loss of Employment Income Arts & Recreation Supports Supports Supports Supports Public Provision Basic Income Universal Basic Needs For universal basic needs Concept by Rob Rainer, dvocate for a Basic Income Guarantee a 1

The Manitoba MINCOME Experiment One of five basic income (NIT) experiments in 1960s • and 1970s in North America and only one in Canada • Dauphin, MB was set up as the only ‘saturation' site (many town residents qualified for BI receipt) A federal-provincial program over • 1974-1979 but data were collected only first two years Analysis of archival MINCOME data revealed • statistically significant decrease in hospitalization of Dauphin residents, an increase in grade 12 enrollment

Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement approximate a basic income for seniors.

The Canada Child Tax Benefit approximates a basic income for children.

basic income guarantee for all Canadians cost? How much would a basic income guarantee for all Canadians cost? First, reframe to see basic income as less a cost and more an upstream investment in human development, to help avoid the downstream impact of poverty, inequality and related human under-development. Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed. Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders. Henry David Thoreau

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