Submission to The House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities

On the Poverty Reduction Strategy

Submitted by: Barbara Boraks on behalf of the Basic Income Initiative, a subcommittee of the Christian Jewish Dialogue of Toronto.

The Basic Income Initiative, based in Toronto, Canada, is a multi-faith, multi sector consortia which utilizes faith-based and Indigenous insights and values, strengthened by contributions from a wide range of additional fields and disciplines, to support the adoption of a guaranteed annual income. By meeting basic material needs, it is our belief that a basic income will further promote human dignity and facilitate individual fulfillment within the broader context of the common good. Participants include senior and established representatives from the following institutions: Roman Catholic, United Church, Anglican, Muslim, Jewish, Indigenous, health care, labour, business, social justice advocates, and academics (economics, food insecurity, social work).

By Roderick Benns

The Basic Income Canada Network (BICN) has recently made its submission to the House of Commons Finance Committee pre-budget consultations, urging creation of a basic income that would be universally available to Canadians in times of need.

BICN Chair Sheila Regehr writes in her executive summary that this is “an important time to build on basic income initiatives underway in Quebec and Ontario” and on recent federal initiatives to strengthen other forms of basic income. This includes the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) for seniors and the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) aimed at families with children, both of which have proven effective in reducing poverty. (Retired Senator Hugh Segal is providing advice on design and implementation of a demonstration pilot in Ontario, and Quebec is currently looking into a form of basic income.)