The need for a federal Basic Income feature within any coherent post-COVID-19 economic recovery plan

Abstract

COVID-19 has shone a harsh light on the extent of poverty in Canada. When normal economic activity was interrupted by the exigencies of public health driven lockdowns, the shutdown disproportionately affected people who, before the pandemic, were living on incomes beneath the poverty line or dependent upon low-paying hourly remunerated jobs, usually part time and without appropriate benefits. Those living beneath the poverty line in Canada, three million of welfare poor and working poor, include a disproportionately large population of Black and Indigenous people and people of colour. This paper addresses the challenge of inclusive economic recovery. In particular, we propose that the federal government introduce a Basic Income guarantee for all residents of Canada as part of a comprehensive social safety net that includes access to housing, child care, mental and physical health care, disability supports, education, and the many other public services essential to life in a high-income country. Residents with no other income would receive the full benefit that would be sufficient to ensure that no one lives in poverty, while those with low incomes would receive a reduced amount.

COVID-19: First wave impacts on the Charitable Food Sector in Manitoba, Canada

“…They challenge the existing corporate food regime as inadequate for responding to food insecurity, and propose redistributive policies and actions that would increase food equity post-pandemic (James et al, 2021). Others still see the pandemic as compelling evidence for a Canadian guaranteed income scheme that would substantially reduce poverty in vulnerable populations (Forget, 2020;Segal, Banting, & Forget, 2021). Whatever the pathways forward, the pandemic has clearly demonstrated that the status quo, which relies almost exclusively on charitable supports to mitigate food insecurity, is inefficient and inadequate.…”

‘Covering all the [welfare] basics’: a critical policy study of the Expert Panel on Basic Income report in British Columbia, Canada

“…Despite being a wealthy country, Canada's expenditures on health and income transfers are among the lowest of OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Security) countries (Segal et al, 2021). It is the only G7 country not to apply wealth, gift, or inheritance taxes on its citizens, (Macdonald, 2018), and has one of the lowest corporate tax rates (Ellis, 2022).…”

The Canada Disability Benefit: Battling Ableism in Design and Implementation

“…This was later revised to permit self-declarations of up to $1,000 in work earnings without interrupting benefit payment. Some observers at the time hailed the program as an example for basic income and the future of income support in Canada (Forget, 2020;Segal et al, 2021;UBI Works, 2021). The COVID-19 benefit was simple to administer and had an appearance of horizontal equity, but they likely overpaid some and underpaid others, relative to their past work income and other income sources.…”