Elisabeth May. Picture credit to: Mission City Record.
Elisabeth May, Canada’s Green Party leader has spoken about a “robot tax” which, according to the party’s Platform, focuses on large companies (exempting slam businesses) laying off employees due to investments in artificial intelligence (AI). In this scheme, these companies would pay the equivalent amount of income tax which would be due from the displaced workers. However, funds collected this way would be used not to finance a universal basic income (UBI) – also called a Guaranteed Livable Income in the Platform document – but to backup educational and retraining programs.
This is line with the Party’s professed uncertainty – as expressed in their Platform 2019 Costing – about how to finance and administer a UBI in Canada, although the Party supports UBI as an idea and has pleaded the Federal Government to restart the Ontario basic income pilot project.
More information at:
“Green party proposes a ‘robot tax’ when companies replace workers with machines”, CBC, 29th September 2019
I appear to be alone in two groups which should be working together: The UBI movement not seeing it as a lubricant or catalyst for the mind set change necessary to stop ecocide, and XR and co who at best think the UBI will be a good idea later, but don’t see its potential as a kick start for the more obvious measures to stop climate collapse. A Green party missing this!!
http://www.clivelord.wordpress.com
I agree. Climate change will not stop without basic income and what a great basic income march we had this weekend. Good show.