Tom MacNeil

Bill C-233 for Unconditional Basic Income has been introduced in the federal parliament to develop a national framework for guaranteed livable basic income. To find out more information and sign a petition to support Bill C-233 check out this link http://Bills S-233 and C-223 for Unconditional Basic Income in Canada (ubiworks.ca)

How high should a livable BIG be set?(GLI and BIG are essentially the same)

Since the purpose of a BIG is to address income insecurity and poverty, the guarantee should be set at or above the poverty line. There are a number of ways to define that line. Three that Statistics Canada uses are the Low Income Cut Off (LICO), the Low Income Measure (LIM), and the Market Basket Measure (MBM). All are adjusted for family size. But since they are calculated in differing ways, each can be applied easily to some regions/communities but not to others, and they render up different poverty rates. As a result, experts disagree which to use for what purposes, although Canada recently adopted the MBM as its official poverty line. With respect to basic income, the best measure to use will depend on various aspects of the ultimate design. As can be seen from the Parliamentary Budget Office’s 2021 report, basic income has the potential to completely transform the rate of poverty in Canada. To be effective, the benefit level of a livable national BIG must be high enough to lift everyone out of poverty.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

Could you live on $1,169 a month to pay all your bills? That’s what a single person on Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) gets. GLI would allow those on ODSP to have a livable wage and chance at a better life. Contact your political representatives to request their support for GLI at a federal and provincial level.

What program do we propose for Canada? The Coalition advocates (UCC is a member) for an income tested livable BIG for adults aged 18-64 functioning as part of a comprehensive array of social supports. The benefit for a single adult should be set at or above the chosen poverty line and indexed to the cost of living. The reduction rate for paid work should be set at a level which will make working always worthwhile – certainly no higher than 50%. The Coalition proposes a lower reduction rate, but the precise reduction rate will depend on various aspects of the final design. Disabled people with exceptional costs due to their disability should receive additional monetary support to allay those costs.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

Let’s begin with the basics, including clarifying the various terms used to refer to GLI.

What is a basic income?A basic income is a periodic, unconditional cash payment provided by government to individuals. It ensures recipients can meet their basic needs and live with dignity regardless of their work status. Different terms are used for similar policy proposals to emphasize different key characteristics of basic income: i) a Basic Income Guarantee (BIG) creates an income floor, preventing people from falling into poverty. It is unconditional, and (like health care) universally available, but income tested and so delivered only to those who need it, regardless of their work status. ii) a Guaranteed Livable Income (GLI) GLI and BIG are essentially the same. Many Canadian advocates have adopted the use of GLI to emphasize the importance of the benefit’s sufficiency. It must be high enough not just to survive, but to live with dignity. The sufficiency requirement is also part of all detailed definitions of BIG, but not highlighted. This document uses the phrase livable BIG throughout to keep sufficiency to the fore. iii) a Universal Basic Income (UBI) In terms of its definition, a UBI is an unconditional payment made to all adults, rich or poor, and is not clawed back. It contrasts directly with income tested models. In Canada, however, UBI has come to be used often to refer to any kind of basic income program. This leads to confusion exploited by opponents to attack BIG’s affordability.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

Over the next few months Outreach will be sharing information about the UCC Guaranteed Livable Income initiative to help the congregation and community have a better understanding of what GLI is and how we can work to make GLI a reality.

Keep an eye out in the E-news and on the church website for GLI announcements which will provide answers to Frequently Asked Questions, links to videos and more.

Everyone can play a role by learning more about GLI, sharing information with family and friends and most importantly, contacting your politicians to petition for the introduction of GLI nation-wide. If you want to help Outreach raise awareness, please contact the office. Here’s a link to view the United Church of Canada GLI website http://Create a Guaranteed Livable Income Program | The United Church of Canada (united-church.ca)