The ability of the government to respond quickly in the wake of the pandemic by providing emergency benefits tells us that we can act quickly to ensure a prosperous future for all, sort of building on CERB and the Canada recovery benefit, which offered vital supports for individuals and families. These can become useful platforms for the launch of a permanent program that will provide the necessary security and stability post-COVID.
We know that people behave differently if they know that the income assistance they're receiving is only temporary. With a permanent basic income, people, and women in particular, will be better equipped to make important decisions that have long-term implications for them and their families, whether those are going back to school, starting a business or finding new work opportunities. There are lots of opportunities for us to work together to achieve this goal. It is an explicitly feminist policy featuring intersectionality and GBA+ analysis.