Hamilton, Canada. Credit to: CBC.
As reported before, the majority of the Ontario’s citizens support a basic income, but they want a pilot project. However, most think $17,000 (CAD) is insufficient to meet the basic needs of most citizens.
There was a poll by Campaign Research done on 1,969 people with 53% of people supporting the plan for a basic income. Young people, aged 18 to 24, were the most supportive age group at 59%.
Lars Osberg, professor of economics at Dalhousie University, said the poll was possibly inaccurate with, for example, the Atlantic Canada (63% support for the plan) sample at only 198 people. Liberals (62%) and NDP (63%) were the most supportive.
The pilot project has 4,000 people from three areas: Hamilton, Lindsay, and Thunder Bay. It emphasizes citizens with low incomes. Couples will get $24,027; singles will receive $16,989.
The first experiment will run one year without conditions. The reason for the experiment is to see if the basic income provisions will improve life quality and job prospects.
Osberg noted that the youth are the unemployed or the underemployed, generally, and that the basic income does not disincentivize work. Osberg thinks the basic income would not disincentive work, as some fear.
More information at:
Jack Hauen, “Majority support Ontario’s basic income plan, but many find $17,000 not enough: poll”, Financial Times, May 17th 2017
Eli Yufest, “Majority approves of Ontario’s basic income plan, many find $17,000 per year too little an amount“, Campaign Research, May 16th 2017
The Ontario pilot is set to run for three years initially, not one.
I wholeheartedly support basic income . Especially young people between 18 and 24 and, people between 55 and 64 are in a most precarious situation. I don’t think $ 17000 per year is too little a amount.
I think even $ 10000 per year would immensely enhance the life quality of people in a economically unstable situation. The government authorities should realize that there are too many people living under poverty line in Canada.I live in BC Two bed room apt or condo
monthly rent in Vancouver is $ 3250.It is shocking for me. If I worked full time and got paid basic wage. I would earn about $ 1800. How can I support my family and make both ends meet.? I find a lot of people around me working their fingers to the bone just to keep their heads above water. We ought to face reality .