First of all, we welcome [Technical difficulty—Editor]. This is really great. We've met all of you, and it was very cordial of you to come around to meet us. Thank you for coming here. All of you have met Trish Altass as well.
I'll move into our opening statement.
Coalition Canada Basic Income, established in 2019, is a cross-country network of experienced basic income advocates. We have worked in concert with the Basic Income Canada Network, Basic Income Canada Youth Network and local, provincial and territorial advocacy groups and networks across Canada to implement our common goal: a nationwide basic income guarantee, which we know by a lot of different names but we will be using one of those titles today.
We respect the rights and sovereignty of the first peoples of Canada.
By the way, we are meeting on Mi'kmaq territory. We thank the Mi'kmaq people for having accepted us here and continuing to accept us.
We make it a point that, when we're talking about a basic income guarantee, the first peoples of Canada have their own voice in this. We can come back to that at any time if you want to. We commit to listening and working in solidarity with indigenous peoples in a spirit of reconciliation as we advocate for a basic income for all.
What is guaranteed basic income? A basic income is a periodic unconditional cash payment provided by government to individuals, based on residency and recipient needs, to have their basic needs met and to live in dignity regardless of their work status. GBI is different from universal basic income, UBI, which is universal in that it's paid out to all regardless of income. GBI also is universal, but that is because it is paid to all persons who need it to bring them up to the official poverty line established by an agreed measure, and in Canada that happens to be the market basket measure. Guaranteed basic income is designed to complement other elements of the social safety net, not replace them. Some perhaps will be replaced by it.
Coalition Canada recommends the development of a GBI for working-age adults aged 18 to 64, including migrant workers, temporary and permanent residents and refugee claimants. This would make it easier to align with the existing benefits, including those basic income-like benefits for seniors—the OAS and the GIS—and, for parents, the Canada child benefit, and also, Canada's disability benefit, when it is rolled out.
Guaranteed basic income is interjurisdictional. A federal basic income guarantee would be designed to harmonize with other provincial, territorial and indigenous social support and service programs. Federal, provincial and indigenous governments should determine collaboratively which programs would be replaced, if any, and which would continue when the livable income is implemented. Provincial employment and training programs, for example, and counselling and rehabilitative services and supports must remain and should be updated and expanded when needed.
GBI is gaining traction across the country. Everybody has probably noticed this for the past four years at least. P.E.I. is currently seeking to partner with the federal government. This may be news to some of you, but P.E.I. is currently seeking to partner with the federal government on a five- to seven-year province-wide demonstration program. It would be fully funded, with costs shared by the province and the federal government.
The proposition for a P.E.I. basic income demonstration program originated in P.E.I. at both the community level, through the work of the P.E.I. Working Group for a Livable Income, and in the political arena, through all four political parties. On P.E.I., it is widely recognized that basic income would greatly improve the well-being of Islanders, benefiting individuals, families and communities. For example, while not increasing the supply of housing, it would help low-income Islanders to have enough money to put a roof over their heads, which would be a great advance.
You know that's the same across the country.
Coalition Canada, since its beginning, has recognized that Prince Edward Island would be an ideal place to launch a demonstration of basic income guarantee. We're a little bit prejudiced in that line. We think it would work here, but the term “demonstration” is key. “Demonstration” implies a firmly established evaluation process to be in place on day one. Its purpose is the ongoing correction of flaws in the structure and implementation of the program. The evaluation aims to perfect the program in order to carry it forward. The small size of the P.E.I. population, along with many of the same characteristics as those of other provinces, makes it a natural for a manageable evaluation. Other provinces are studying the feasibility as well, such as Newfoundland and Labrador and Yukon.
The basic question is how to pay for a guaranteed basic income. Informed promoters of basic income, whether community advocates, politicians or economists from varied perspectives, know that there is substantial cost attached to basic income. However, all who know the meaning of “basic income” and its capacity for the betterment of all society will say it is worth every dollar. We'll be talking more about that later on.
Thank you.