1. 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

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

3. 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 -

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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