It’s not often we amplify a story from the National Post! But here’s an election-timely article about the costs and benefits of a federally-run guaranteed basic income program. The featured report is from Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux (pictured).
Giroux ran the numbers and found the cost of such a program would be largely offset by changes to current tax credits for those benefiting. The net cost of helping up to four in 10 Canadians escape poverty would be between $3.6 billion and $5 billion.
The report didn’t analyze the expected knock-on impacts of lowering the poverty rate, such as reduced pressure on health care or social services. Tax changes to pay for the program would affect the incomes of higher earners.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has introduced parliamentary bills for a guaranteed livable basic income. Liberal leadership candidate Karina Gould pledged that if elected, she would begin establishing a basic personal income within a year.
There is an affordable way to significantly reduce Canadian poverty. Where do others who aspire to lead this great country stand on this?
Canada’s independent fiscal watchdog shows we can cut poverty rates by up to 40 per cent at a relatively low cost. This is the kind of policy leadership the country needs.
Send a quick note to those who would lead our great country. Ask them to declare where they stand on implementing a guaranteed basic income for Canadians.
The Hon. Pierre Poilievere, Leader of the Opposition
The Hon. Chrystia Freeland
The Hon. Karina Gould
The Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, supporting Mark Carney
Jagmeet Singh, Leader of the NDP
Yves-Francois Blanchet, Ldr Bloc Quebecois
Senator Kim Pate, sponsor of GBI legistation
Your MP is copied
Bcc: actions@MediaAMP.ca
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