Ontario Moving Forward with Basic Income Pilot

[inanna]

June 24, 2016 11:00 A.M.
Ministry of Community and Social Services

The province has appointed the Honourable Hugh Segal to provide advice on the design and implementation of a Basic Income Pilot in Ontario, as announced in the 2016 Budget.

Basic income, or guaranteed annual income, is a payment to eligible families or individuals that ensures a minimum level of income. Ontario will design and implement a pilot program to test the growing view that a basic income could help deliver income support more efficiently, while improving health, employment and housing outcomes for Ontarians.

As Special Advisor on Basic Income, Mr. Segal will draw on his expertise in Canadian and international models of basic income and consult with thought leaders to help Ontario design a pilot.

<snip>

Supporting Ontarians through a Basic Income Pilot is part of the government's economic plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs. The four-part plan includes investing in talent and skills, including helping more people get and create the jobs of the future by expanding access to high-quality college and university education. The plan is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario's history and investing in a low-carbon economy driven by innovative, high-growth, export-oriented businesses. The plan is also helping working Ontarians achieve a more secure retirement.

Link: https://news.ontario.ca/mcss/en/2016/06/ontario-moving-forward-with-basic-income-pilot.html

[inanna]

1. I'm currently reading these most excellent reports

from PEPSO (Poverty and Employment Precarity in Southern Ontario). It's a project that partners with The Toronto Star, McMaster University, etc.

The first report, It's More Than Poverty, was published in February 2013.

The follow up report, The Precarity Penalty, was published in May 2015.

Each report is quite lengthy, it's very detailed stuff.

And it makes you realise that basic income should have happened long ago.

Better late than never....

[CrispyQ]

2. Kick & rec.

Thanks for the great links.