by Andre Coelho | Jun 29, 2016 | News
(Picture: credit to CBC News)
It seems that food prices are quite high in Canada’s remote northern locations. This is made clear in a recent article, posted at CBC News, highlighting an important Food Bank Conference which took place in Thunder Bay (Canada), from the 12th through 14th of June. These high prices, of course, affect the ability of food banks to access “high-quality, high protein food”, which translates into higher costs and, ultimately, less availability of these foods.
Chris Hatch, who leads Mississauga Food Bank and also the Ontario Association of Food Banks, showed his concerns over the fact that many other Food Bank delegates were not aware of these higher prices, but also emphasized that this conference gave them the opportunity to discuss some of Ontario’s Liberal government initiatives. Among these initiatives is basic income, a policy that was particularly highlighted and discussed at this venue, mainly due to its potential benefits such as getting people out of poverty. With less poverty, better nutrition standards are likely to follow, as already observed in basic income trials in India and Namibia, for instance.
It is also noteworthy that Rob Reiner, long time basic income advocate and ex-officio advisor to Basic Income Canada Network Board of Directors, was a keynote speaker at this conference, as presented in its Program.
More information at:
“Ontario Food Bank conference wraps up in Thunder Bay“, CBC News, June 15th 2016
Ontario Association of Food Banks, 2016 OAFB Conference
by Andre Coelho | Jun 26, 2016 | News
Hugh Segal (credit to: Basic Income Canada Network)
Ontario’s political leadership aims at economic growth and job creation. That is particularly clear in the most recent News Release, announcing that the provincial government has appointed Special Advisor Hugh Segal to “help inform the design and implementation of the pilot”. Mr. Segal’s involvement will be of a technical nature, such as giving advice on potential criteria for selecting subjects, locations and evaluation of results.
Conservative former Senator Hugh Segal has long been a basic income supporter, having extensively written about and been cited on the subject (a couple of examples listed below).
Ontario is also investing in education, as a part of a four-part major economic plan for the region. Other priorities are related to housing, in an effort to “help grow Canada’s economy in a clean and sustainable way”. Ontario’s leaders reinforce the need to help “more people get and create the jobs of the future”, although the relation between that objective and the basic income implementation potential effects is not clear yet.
More information at:
Ministry of Housing, “Social infrastructure spending strengthens communities and grows the economy in Ontario”, Ontario Newsroom, 21st June 2016
Ministry of Community and Social Services, “Ontario moving forward with basic income pilot”, Ontario Newsroom, 24th June 2016
Hugh Segal, “Scrapping Welfare”, Literary Review of Canada, December 2012
“Learn about basic income”, Basic Income Pilot Canada
by Andre Coelho | Jun 17, 2016 | News
Credit to: Podemos Renta Básica
This short clip, with clear attractive drawings and without spoken words, depicts the basic income financing scheme presented by Jordi Arcarons, Antoni Doménech, Daniel Raventós and Lluís Torrens, which in Spain would result in 645 €/month for every citizen. This is an initiative of the Podemos Renta Básica group, which has remained very active, even though the Podemos political party no longer officially supports basic income.
More information at:
In Spanish:
Youtube “Renta Básica YA!”, Podemos Renta Básica
by Andre Coelho | May 22, 2016 | News
Santiago Bilinkis, at The Future of Employment IDEA Annual Conference
Although the event happened on the 22nd of October 2015, it is still relevant to take note of Santiago Bilinkis‘ presentation on technological innovation and its effect on the work market. According to Bilinkis, an economist specialized in technological issues and consequences for society, there is considerable denial in society today, which mounts barriers against the unstoppable evolution of technology. During this presentation, held at the 51th IDEA Annual Conference (titled “El future del empleo” (“The future of employment”)), Bilinkis spoke not only about basic income as a possible solution for massive technological unemployment, guaranteeing a minimum income level for all people regardless of their job situation, but also about John Maynard Keynes’ vision of almost 100 years ago; Kenyes predicted that, eventually, machines would perform most human tasks, society would be much more egalitarian and luxuries would be socially unacceptable. His vision is one of recognition of the present social situation and which presents a positive view on society’s capacity to improve its well-being, taking advantage of the exponential technological developments of today.
More information (in Spanish) at:
IDEA Argentina, “51º Coloquio Anual de IDEA – El futuro del empleo [51th IDEA Annual Conference – The future of employment]”, Instituto para el Desarollo Empresarial de la Argentina, October 22nd 2015
by Andre Coelho | May 13, 2016 | News
Armando F. Sanchez
Armando F. Sanchez, CEO, broadcaster and author, hosted this 30 minute webcast, from Los Angeles, transmitted live on the 3rd of April. Armando’s guests were Basic Income News editors André Coelho, Jenna van Draanen and Josh Martin, invited to this webcast, which is a part of a series entitled “The Future of Today”. In this short and informal conversation, the central debated issues were the origins and implications of basic income. Computerization, social security systems, financing issues and basic income initiatives around the world were some of the topics commented upon.
More information at:
Youtube, from Armando F. Sanchez “The Future of Today” series, “BIEN 4-3-16 1”
