The Political Context and State of the Discourse on Basic Income in Canada  Jim Mulvale and Sid Frankel Faculty of Social Work University of Manitoba

TOPICS CYCLICAL HISTORY OF BASIC INCOME DEBATE IN CANADA THE CURRENT CONTEXT REASONS FOR A BASIC INCOME SOME COMPLICATING FACTORS

THE CYCLE OF DEBATES 1930’S - ALBERTA SOCIAL CREDIT – UNIVERSAL REGULAR DIVIDEND 1960’S – ECONOMIC COUNCIL OF CANADA –DISCOVERY OF POVERTY – GUARANTEED INCOME SUPPLEMENT 1970’S – CROLL COMMITTEE –NEGATIVE INCOME TAX AT 70% OF POVERTY THRESHOLD; BUT NOT FOR SINGLE PERSON HOUSEHOLDS OR CITIZENS UNDER FORTY - ROYAL COMMISSION ON STATUS OF WOMEN – SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES -SOCIAL SECURITY REVIEW –UNEMPLOYABLE -MINCOME 1980’S - MACDONALD COMMISSION – UNIVERSAL INCOME SECURITY PROGRAM -LOW GUARANTEE REPLACING MOST TRANSFERS TO HOUSEHOLDS 2000’S - SENATE SUB-COMMITTEE ON CITIES – NIT FOR DISABLED, GREEN PAPER - HUMA COMMITTEE -BASIC INCOME FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES -

CURRENT CONTEXT: GOVERNMENT FEDERAL LEVEL MINISTER OF FAMILIES, CHILDREN AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ADVOCATES EXAMINATION AFTER IMMEDIATE REFORMS ACCOMPLISHED NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY – ENDORSEMENT IN PRINCIPLE GREEN PARTY ENDORSEMENT IS CANADA CHILD BENEFIT A BASIC INCOME FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN PROVINCIAL LEVEL GENERAL QUEBEC COMMITMENT ONTARIO TRIAL INCREASING MUNICIPAL ENDORSEMENT

CURRENT CONTEXT: CIVIL SOCIETY AND LABOUR BASIC INCOME CANADA NETWORK – POLICY ENTREPRENEUR POVERTY REDUCTION ADVOCATES RECOVERING FROM MACDONALD HANGOVER INDICATIONS OF SUPPORT FOR INCREMENTAL IMPLEMENTATION IN ORGANIZED LABOUR

WHY A BASIC INCOME IN CANADA? POVERTY REDUCTION RATIONALE MORAL ARGUMENT ENDING STIGMATIZING PROCESSES ENLIGHTENED SELF INTEREST – COST OF POVERTY BENEFITS OF EQUALITY ESTABLISH ECONOMIC FLOOR JOBLESS FUTURE PARTIALLY DECOUPLING EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME IN THE FACE OF GROWING PRECARITY AND SHRINKING DEMAND FOR LABOUR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY REDISTRIBUTIVE MECHANISM IN A STEADY STATE ECONOMY

COMPLICATING FACTORS BATTLE FOR ADEQUACY AND EROSION OF POLITICAL SUPPORT REPLACEMENT OF OTHER CASH BENEFITS FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL COOPERATION DESIGNING ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS, STRUCTURES AND PROCEDURES EFFECTIVE DELIVERY SYSTEM

Reference for full article James P. Mulvale and Sid Frankel (2016). Next Steps on the Road to Basic Income in Canada. Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare, Volume XLIII, Number 3