Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)
Status
Second reading (House), as of June 14, 2021 (This bill did not become law.)
Summary
This is from the published bill.
This enactment requires the Minister of Finance to develop a national strategy to assess implementation models for a guaranteed basic income program as part of Canada’s innovation and economic growth strategy. It also provides for reporting requirements in relation to the strategy.
Elsewhere
All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.
Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-273s:
C-273 (2022)
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (Corinne’s Quest and the protection of children)
C-273 (2016)
An Act to amend the Customs Act (marine pleasure craft)
C-273 (2011)
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (cyberbullying)
C-273 (2009)
An Act to amend the Competition Act and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (right to repair)
This is a computer-generated summary of the speeches below.
Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Bill C-273 proposes a national strategy for a guaranteed basic income by enabling implementation pilot programs between the provinces/territories and the federal government to test different models.
Liberal
Piloting a national basic income strategy: Bill C-273 establishes a national strategy for a guaranteed basic income and enables implementation pilots with provinces and territories to test delivery models at scale.
Updating the social welfare system: The current social welfare system is outdated, complex, and fails many Canadians; a guaranteed basic income could simplify programs and improve support delivery.
Providing stability in a changing economy: With the rise of the gig economy, automation, and economic disruption, a guaranteed basic income provides a necessary financial floor and stability for workers.
Creating a fairer society: Like past expansions of health care and pensions, a guaranteed basic income is seen as a way to provide opportunity, dignity, and stability, leading to a richer and fairer country.
Conservative
High cost and tax increases: A national basic income is estimated to cost up to $93 billion annually, potentially requiring significant tax increases like tripling the GST or raising income taxes to 50%.
Not best for poverty: A study found basic income is not the best way to address poverty; instead, government should focus on improving existing targeted programs for those who need them most.
Addiction and work concerns: Concerns exist that basic income could exacerbate drug addiction issues and create a disincentive to work, potentially leading to dependency and a permanent underclass.
Focus on job creation: Conservatives believe the best way out of poverty is getting a job and focus on a jobs recovery plan to create opportunities and economic growth instead of a basic income.
NDP
Supports guaranteed basic income: The NDP supports the principle of a guaranteed livable basic income as a means to lift millions out of poverty and address the shortcomings of Canada's social safety net.
Basic income must not replace social programs: The party is concerned that the bill might allow a basic income to replace existing social supports, emphasizing it must be an addition to the current safety net.
Addresses poverty and human rights: Basic income is seen as a way to address poverty, which is linked to systemic inequalities, and aligns with human rights frameworks and the MMIWG Calls for Justice.
Bloc
Supports citizen's income concept: The Bloc finds the concept of a citizen's income worthy of consideration as a potential way to address wealth inequality and the growth of precarious employment.
Provincial jurisdiction: The party asserts that support for individuals and families, including income security programs like a guaranteed minimum income, falls under Quebec's constitutional jurisdiction, not Ottawa's.
Federal administration problematic: The Bloc expresses deep skepticism regarding federal administration of social programs, citing historical examples like Employment Insurance and health transfers where Ottawa has failed to keep promises or adapt to Quebec's needs.
Federal bill is an intrusion: The party views Bill C-273 as an intrusion into Quebec's constitutional jurisdiction and argues that a successful citizen's income program can only be administered by Quebec, preferably in an independent state.
The time provided for the consideration of Private Members' Business has now expired and the order is dropped to the bottom of the order of precedence on the Order Paper.
