A proposal aimed at establishing a national framework for a guaranteed basic income in Canada will be a key focus at an international basic income conference taking place in Toronto this week. The bill, known as S-206, is presently under review by a Senate committee and seeks to task the Minister of Finance with crafting a national framework to provide every individual above the age of 17 in Canada with access to a guaranteed livable basic income without the need for work obligations.
Scheduled for an extensive discussion on Wednesday at the 25th annual Basic Income Earth Network Congress (BIEN) hosted at Toronto Metropolitan University, the basic income concept outlined in S-206 is described as a sensible economic measure by BIEN chair Sheila Regehr. The proposed policy aims to offer economic stability and support to individuals aged 18 to 64, akin to the support currently extended to families with children and seniors.
Regehr points to existing federal programs like the Canadian disability benefit and the Canada child benefit, highlighting that they are currently accessible only to specific demographics. She underlines that the four-day congress provides an opportunity for experts from 30 nations to exchange insights and learn from Canadian activists.
Eight years following the termination of a three-year $150-million basic income pilot program by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, the BIEN congress will feature Senator Kim Pate, the sponsor of Bill S-206, emphasizing the growing interest in basic income policy. Pate notes the effectiveness of the short-lived Ontario pilot project in assisting participants to transition off social assistance through regular unconditional payments.
Pate envisions a successful basic income framework mirroring the former Ontario pilot, where participants could augment their total income by combining work with basic income payments that taper off based on earned income. The push for S-206 aligns with global efforts by basic income advocates to address a range of complex societal challenges, asserts Regehr.
However, the introduction of S-206 and the broader concept of basic income face opposition from critics who argue that such policies are costly and could discourage workforce participation. Addressing concerns about disincentivizing work, Pate suggests a phased reduction of support as individuals transition into the workforce under S-206, as opposed to an abrupt cutoff of support.
While S-206 is still undergoing Senate review and awaits deliberation in the House of Commons, Pate’s previous attempt with basic income bill S-233 in 2021 did not advance beyond the National Finance Committee stage.