Charles Lammam and Hugh MacIntyre, “A guaranteed annual income is a long shot”
Charles Lammam and Hugh MacIntyre, “A guaranteed annual income is a long shot“, Calgary Herald, 26 June 2015
Charles Lammam and Hugh MacIntyre, “A guaranteed annual income is a long shot“, Calgary Herald, 26 June 2015
The news analysis show has an interview about Basic Income, as a result of Calgary and Edmonton mayors coming out in favour.
CBC, The Exchange with Amanda Lang, 9 June 2015
This article reports on the findings of “Mincome” basic income experiment in Dauphin, Canada. The Mincome experiment is the largest ever conducted in North America, lasting over four years. A recent revaluation of the findings by Dr. Evelyn L. Forget,an economist and professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba,found the basic income policy created a decline in doctor visits, an 8.5 percent reduction in the hospitalization rate, and more adolescents continuing into grade 12. Mallet uses these findings, along with the historical support from the libertarian Right, to argue in favor of the adoption of a guaranteed income.
Whitney Mallet, “The Town Where Everyone Got Free Money” Motherboard, February 4, 2015
Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson has launched the idea of pioneering Canadian basic income together with the fellow Albertan city of Calgary.
Iveson said the evidence is “overwhelming” for introducing a basic income guarantee for all Canadians and believes Alberta’s two largest cities should host initial pilot schemes.
The mayor of Edmonton also said the two cities should closely involve the new center-left government of Alberta.
Iveson said that Edmonton and Calgary “may be in a position to pilot some different solutions” and noted that as partners they may be able to assist the Province of Alberta implement a basic income guarantee pilot.
Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi early last month [May 9 2015] made a strong commitment to BIG and is currently building support among fellow Canadian city leaders. Iveson said that mayors like himself “can help move the needle on public acceptance” towards basic income, given Canada’s non-partisan mayoral tradition.
Rachel Notley, leader of the center-left Alberta New Democratic Party, assumed office as province premier on 24 May [2015] marking the end of an unbroken 44-year period of center-right rule in the province.
Iveson said there was scope to build pro-basic income momentum across the political spectrum, including among conservatives.
For other stories on this topic, see these sources:
Roderick Benns, “Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson speaks out in favour of a basic income guarantee,” Leaders and Legacies, June 1, 2015
Roderick Benns, “Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi vows to take ‘leadership’ on basic income guarantee issue,” Leaders and Legacies, May 9, 2015
Former Canadian Senator Hugh Segal has been a long-time advocate for basic income in Canada. In a recent interview, Segal notes that the nature of work is changing and he comments on the willingness to protect companies from economic crisis but not to protect individual people. Segal says that a basic income guarantee should not be about political affiliations and says, ““Whether left or right, this idea is attractive for all. Just give the money to the people living in poverty who will know what to do with it.”
For more about Hugh Segal’s endorsement of basic income see:
Roderick Benns, “Time to start treating our own citizens as well as we do corporations: Hugh Segal.” Leaders and Legacies. May 26, 2015.