BIG online presentation to BCUC June 17, 2020
Basic Income video - Part 1
Basic Income video - Part 2
Additional Information
This list of references is presented as two sections. Section A citations are those which Ellie and Clarke used as primary sources for the video content above. Section B citations arose from the discussions following the video presentations.
Section A
Basic Income Canada Network (BICN) invites everybody to sign their pledge in support of a Basic Income for all Canadians.
Ontario Basic Income Network (OBIN) has looked into the impact and reaction to cancellation of the Ontario Basic Income Pilot in mid-2018. The OBIN working groups across Ontario are developing reports indicating what a Basic Income might achieve.
The first ever cost-benefit analysis on poverty reduction in Canada by the Ontario Association of Food Banks, entitled “The Cost of Poverty: An Analysis of the Economic Costs of Poverty in Ontario” by Nathan Laurie (2008) was the inspiration for Ellie and Clarke to begin studying and promoting basic income. This report is no longer available online.
Canadian Index of Wellbeing. (2016). How are Canadians Really Doing? The 2016 CIW National Report. Waterloo, ON: Canadian Index of Wellbeing and University of Waterloo. Basic Income was the primary policy option recommended for improving well-being of Canadians in 2016.
Forget, Evelyn L., (2018) Basic Income for Canadians: The key to a Healthier, Happier, more Secure Life for All. James Lorimer & Company Ltd., Publishers Toronto. Dr. Forget is the researcher who analyzed the data from the Manitoba Mincome Experiment and was an advisor for the Ontario Basic Income Pilot.
Signposts to Success: Report of a BICN Survey of Ontario Basic Income Recipients (PDF)
Economic Contribution of the Canada Child Benefit: A Basic Income for Canadian Families with Children. CANCEA, 2019. A project to determine the economic benefit from the Canada Child Benefit was coordinated by UBI Works in partnership with Community Development Halton and sponsored by thirteen Canadian business leaders.
The Dollars and Sense of Solving Poverty (PDF) – National Council of Welfare, 2011.
The Basic Income We Want (PDF) - Statement from Basic Income Canada Network on key guidelines for good basic income design.
Basic Income: Some Policy Options for Canada (PDF) – Three policy options for a fully costed basic income plan with progressive tax funding. These were presented briefly in the videos above.
Section B
A lively and worthwhile discussion followed the BI videos. A suggestion was raised that perhaps the Topps had not assumed a broad enough economic consideration for where BI fits into the overall economic framework of our society. Recently published Good Economics for Hard Times makes the case for intelligent interventionism and a society built on compassion and respect. Using results of many studies from around the world the authors show that income benefits directly to the most deprived are most likely and rapid in achieving social improvements.
Abhijit V. Banerjee and Esther Duflo, 2019, Good Economics for Hard Times Public Affairs, New York.
Another economic approach was mentioned – The COVID-19 Crisis is a Chance to do Capitalism Differently by Mariana Mazzucato
Constitutional Issues for Basic Income by Terrance Hunsley reviews how and when varied forms of Basic Income such as the OAS or major social reforms such as Medicare have taken place in Canada. With BI increasing in possibility this also describes what possibilities may be workable under current conditions.
Note: the next two citations refer to Universal Basic Income (UBI). UBI initially assumes that “universal” applies to income distribution where everyone receives payment (a demogrant). By contrast, the basic income concept promoted by BICN as in the Topp’s presentation is a Basic Income Guarantee (BIG) that applies “universal” to eligibility for income support as determined by the tax system (ie your total income). The implementation costs are widely different for each.
Universal Basic Income: A Union Perspective (PDF) - The Key Findings and Key Conclusions are excellent summaries of the UBI concept. It addresses arguments both for and against and suggests alternatives.