Welcoming the establishment of a basic income expert committee
Back in 2016, I published a series of four blog posts exploring the notion of Basic Income.
In the first I provided an overview of the concept, the issues that we are facing today in BC, and the potential implications of a basic income policy. This was followed by a second post that examined the state of poverty in BC, including the social assistance programs available and how they can fail to help those most in need. It also explored how basic income could help to alleviate poverty in our province. The third post outlined the shift we are experiencing as a population away from long-term, full-time work with benefits, toward short-term, part-time, and contract-based work.
The series culminated in a final post that provided recommendations and a commitment to British Columbians. That commitment was that a BC Green government would introduce pilot projects that explored the costs and benefits of basic income. And so the promised establishment of such pilot projects formed a key aspect of the Income Security component of our BC Green 2017 election platform.
The Confidence and Supply Agreement that we signed with the BC NDP noted the following in Section 4a:
a. Design and implement a province-wide poverty reduction strategy that includes addressing the real causes of homelessness, including affordable accommodation, support for mental health and addictions and income security.
i. One aspect of the poverty reduction strategy is to design and implement a basic income pilot to test whether giving people a basic income is an effective way to reduce poverty, improve health, housing and employment.
The BC Government yesterday announced its first step towards fulfilling this commitment. With dedicated funding in the last budget, an expert panel comprising three distinguished researchers has been established to lead a B.C.-focused exploration of basic income.
In the government press release I note:
“Amidst trends like automation, part-time and contract work, the nature of our economy and the jobs within it are rapidly shifting. There is strong evidence that basic income can provide greater income security, while saving costs in other areas. We proposed exploring how basic income could work in B.C., because government should have a plan for the changes on the horizon. The panelists are highly qualified, knowledgeable and creative thinkers. I am excited to work with them on this innovative project.“
Below is the release the BC Green caucus issued in response to the government’s announcement.
Media Release
Weaver welcomes basic income expert committee
For immediate release
July 3, 2018
VICTORIA, B.C. – Andrew Weaver, leader of the B.C. Green Party, says that the government’s newly convened Basic Income Expert Panel is a significant step forward for the province’s 21st century economic strategy. The committee was announced at a press conference today in Vancouver and is related to the B.C. Greens’ Confidence and Supply Agreement with the B.C. NDP.
“At this moment, on the verge of fundamental economic change and with the old
model of work already faltering for so many, we have an opportunity to create policy that sets
the stage for a better future for British Columbians,” said Weaver.
Weaver has advocated for exploring basic income in B.C. since 2016. In the 2017 election, the B.C. Greens campaigned to conduct a basic income pilot and implement basic income for youth transitioning out of care. The expert committee members are David Green, Vancouver School of Economics at UBC; Jonathan Rhys Kesselman, School of Public Policy at SFU; and Lindsay Tedds, School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary.
“Recent years have seen disproportionate increases in part-time and contract work. Wages have stagnated while the cost of living in our cities has spiralled out of control. Meanwhile, studies estimate that half of Canadian jobs could be impacted by automation in the next decade alone. We proposed exploring basic income in B.C. because we believe that government needs to have a plan for the changes on the horizon.
“When people are secure, they are more likely to feel confident starting a new business or returning to school. Investing in British Columbians’ success is the best way we can ensure a thriving local economy for generations to come. Further, research shows that basic income can provide income security while reducing the costs of other supports. For instance, when basic income was introduced in Dauphin, Manitoba, hospital visits declined by 8.5%.
“The committee members are all highly qualified researchers and creative thinkers. I am delighted they will be exploring this innovative policy idea for government so that we can best position our province to succeed in a changing world.”
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Media contact
Jillian Oliver, Press Secretary
+1 778-650-0597 | jillian.oliver@leg.bc.ca
One Comment
5 Essential Characteristics of a Universal Basic Income…
WHAT IS (UBI) UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME?
Universal basic income is a proposed form of monetary social security that would be made available to every citizen or resident of a particular country. There are five essential characteristics inherent in this Human right:
1 -It’s a sum of money paid at regular intervals.
2 -It’s paid in cash money rather than, say, food stamps etc.
3 -It’s paid to individuals.
4 -It’s paid without any means testing.
5 -It’s paid regardless of an individual’s employment circumstances.
The exact amount that you’d receive would vary from country to country, but the figure economists keep coming back to for the U.S. is around $25,000 per year. That’s not going to make you rich, but it also means you would meet your basic needs without having to be reliant on work. You wouldn’t necessarily have to give up work but jobs are disappearing. We could all work less and if your job disappears your basic needs will be covered.
A Universal Basic Income is within our basic human rights. It is not only about the dollar amount, with UBI everyone is able to create and invent in all facets. Universal Basic Income is a stepping stone to fixing many local and world issues. By no longer needing to chase the dollar to survive we will come out of survival mode and truly flourish, work together and go beyond.